EXCLUSIVE Arsenal legend looks at WENGER’S STAR TREK Arsene must boldly chase the big names he has never chased before, says
SAINTS FLY IN FOR ROB Petit
EMMANUEL PETIT insists Arsene Wenger must invest in proven experience if Arsenal are to mount a title challenge next season.
The last campaign ended with the Gunners out of a Champions League spot for the first time in Wenger’s 20 years as manager at the club.
An FA Cup Final win against Chelsea gave the north London club some silverware, but Thursday night football in the Europa League beckons next term.
Wenger is determined to act and has been linked with a £100million-plus move for AS Monaco and France sensation Kylian Mbappe.
Gunners legend Petit – who helped steer Arsenal to the Premier League in 1998 – is the first to acknowledge the huge potential of t he 18-year-old.
But the midfield general added: “You need big winners if you are going to be successful.
“Winners have shown that they can face challenges, that they have the desire needed for the club to win major honours. They have a special mentality. They have shown what they can do and that is the kind of player Arsene needs to bring in now.”
That is why Petit is anxious that Wenger manages to persuade striker Alexis Sanchez to stay at the club.
Attitude
Sanchez has just one year left on his Emirates contract and that has alerted the likes of Manchester City and Bayern Munich to the possibility of a move for the Chile international.
Wenger is desperate for Sanchez to stay – and Petit knows why.
“Now, he IS a winner,” said Petit. “His attitude and ROBERTO MARTINEZ has been approached about the vacant manager’s role at Southampton.
The former Everton and Wigan boss (left), now in charge of Belgium, is under approach in every game is fantastic. I can see why Arsene wants to keep him.
“At the moment nothing is decided and I believe Sanchez is waiting to see what players are brought in before he makes up his mind about his future.”
Although Petit had a spell at Chelsea, it is clear Arsenal command his loyalty.
And while he was delighted t he Gunners emerged victorious at Wembley in the FA Cup, he was somewhat bemused.
The 2-1 win produced as many questions as answers for the World Cup and European Championship winner. The Frenchman queries whether it was a consideration along with Frank de Boer and Mauricio Pellegrino.
Ex-Manchester United star Ryan Giggs has also been under consideration by the hierarchy at St Mary’s as they search for Claude Puel’s successor. triumph – or an indictment. Petit said: “Too many Arsenal players chose their games last season.
“Too many lacked the mental strength to compete for the title. They had not been consistent enough and produced s ome poor performances. Like the two 5-1 defeats to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
“Of course, you can lose. That can happen to any team at any time – but it was how they lost that I found hard to accept.
“That is why I found the FA Cup Final performance interesting.
“It was like all of a sudden, in one game, there is something to play for and we saw theth whole hlt team perform.f Th Thatt was very rare last season. Now that mentality has to change and if it means the club have to break their salary cap, so be it.”
Petit will also watch the progress of Chelsea in the coming season now that they have the significant challenge of Champions League football.
Manager Antonio Conte was able to mastermind a title surge without the distraction of European combat.
Workload
And Petit said: “You have no idea the extra workload European football brings. You are playing every three days, not once a week.
“Last season, Chelsea could sit back and watch on television as Manchester City, Arsenal, Tottenham and Leicester were playing in Europe. It is a big advantage as Leicester proved the season before.
“Now Chelsea are involved – and it will make a big difference to them.”