SANCHEZ STAYS
Wenger blocks star striker’s escape
ARSENE WENGER has slammed the door shut on Alexis Sanchez’s hopes of leaving Arsenal. Sanchez (left) wants to quit Arsenal with Manchester City pushing hard to sign him. But Wenger has always insisted the Gunners will not sell to a Premier League rival – and he went even further yesterday by claiming he isn’t going anywhere at all. Wenger said: “The decision has been made and we will stick to that. The decision is not to sell.” Sanchez spoke out in Chile recently about his desire to play in the Champions League, something he cannot do with Arsenal next season. But Wenger shot down those remarks at a press conference
in Shanghai ahead of today’s friendly against Bayern Munich. He said: “The main focus for us is to concentrate on the Premier League and it, for me, today is more important than the Champions League.
“We rested sometimes players in the group stages of the Champions League for the Premier League so that’s become the biggest importance for us.
“For the rest, we played 20 years in the Champions League, that’s 17 years before Sanchez arrived and three years with him so he can get us back in there.”
Bayern had been in the running to sign Sanchez, who has one year left on his contract, but pulled out over his wage demands.
Bayern boss Carlo Ancelotti said: “We talked about Sanchez in the past. In the last two months, the club spoke about this.
“But there was no opportunity for a transfer, and so we thought about other players. That’s it.”
Arsenal misfit Wojciech Szczesny is set to sign for Juventus in a £10m deal after flying out for a medical. But the Gunners are set to reject a £6m bid for Jack Wilshere from Sampdoria. Talks continue with Crystal Palace over full-back Calum Chambers.