ARMY
WHY WE DIDN’T BEG HIM TO STAY
Mohamed Elneny were also on target. Steven Lustica pulled one back following a defensive mix-up after substitute keeper Emiliano Martinez picked up Ramsey’s back pass.
Arsenal made 10 changes after 66 minutes and lost their momentum, despite substitute Mesut Ozil hitting the post with a late free-kick.
It made it two wins out of two games in three days in Sydney before Arsenal fly to China to face Bayern Munich then Chelsea.
Wenger sent a clear warning to England midfielder Alex Oxladechamberlain, who despite having just a year left on his contract and being linked with Liverpool, will definitely stay.
He has also given up his pursuit of Monaco wonderkid Kylian Mbappe and Arsenal’s information is that the 18-year-old will stay at the French club for one more season as he denied reports in Spain that they have made a £120m bid.
Wenger added: “That’s not true either. People have a big imagination. What we know now is that Mbappe is over £100m and after that it’s free to imagine what you want.
“But we have not made any offer. I think he will stay, it looks like that. One more season. Maybe he has too much choice. In the end, people don’t move.
“Alex Oxladechamberlain will stay – 100 per cent I expect him to stay. There is no speculation. No matter what happens, he will stay.
“There has been over 160,000 people in two games. Will we get that in China? I’m not sure. It shows how much people love sport here.” linked with moves to Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-germain.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has vowed to stand firm and not sell the forward, despite the player being able to leave for nothing next summer.
But Sanchez said last night: “I want to play in the Champions League. The decision isn’t down to me, I need to wait for Arsenal.
“I’ve made my decision, now I wait for Arsenal’s reply. The idea is to play and win the Champions League. I’ve dreamt about it since I was a kid.”
Arsenal finished fifth last season, missing out on the Champions League places.
But Sanchez’s determination to join a top-four club will still come as a massive blow to his current team-mates.
Skipper Per Mertesacker (right) has revealed that he hoped the Chile star would stay with the Gunners, but had stopped short of personally begging him to commit his life to the North London giants.
World Cup winner Mertesacker said: “He needs a break now. He needs to relax. He has done a lot for us. He played almost every game last season and then the Confederations Cup.
“You need to leave him alone to make up his mind what he wants to do. “It’s his decision. If he feels good, comfortable, he can play with freedom. He has his qualities. You cannot find those everywhere. “He has shown them and we have embraced him.” Mertesacker enjoyed a fairy-tale finish to last season as Arsenal’s man-of-the-match in the FA Cup Final and will carry on for one more year before heading up the club’s academy.
Despite his future being mapped out, Mertesacker is determined to make the most of his final season as a player.
The German barely played last season because of a knee injury, which is still being managed and is aware of the “captain’s curse”, which has seen every player given the armband – since Patrick Vieira left in 2005 – suffer a long-term injury.
Mertesacker admitted he was aware of it, adding: “It doesn’t matter to me. I have lots to give. As long as I am there, I want to play and contribute. “Being able to train and make an impact makes me feel good. And pushing the other players is something I like because, when you are injured, you can do nothing, which was horrible for me. “Last season was not satisfying for me. The end was a fairy tale, but the way to that was very tough. I want to get picked every weekend.
“They manage me very well. I am not doing everything because nobody knows how my knee reacts. We are not overloading. I am fine, but I am not doing every double session.
“When we come to games, you will see the reaction.
“I need to really find out how well I am when it comes to playing 90-minute games.”
The German also has high hopes for Arsenal’s defensive protege Rob Holding, who has been given an extended break after the Euro Under-21s.
Mertesacker added: “Rob has a great character. If he does the same work with the same habits, there is lots to come.”