ONE TEAM IN LONDON
Wenger says it is Arsenal and asks: Why would Sanchez go to Chelsea?
ARSENE WENGER has taunted Chelsea over their interest in unsettled star Alexis Sanchez, saying: ‘There’s only one team in London.’
Chelsea manager Antonio Conte is keen to sign the Arsenal striker and ready to launch a summer move for the Chilean.
Sanchez seemingly opened the door to a move across the capital during an interview in his homeland this week, saying: ‘I want to stay in the city but in a team that wins, that has a winning mentality.’
But speaking yesterday, Wenger had a cheeky message for those who believe Sanchez was talking about moving to West London. He said: ‘How did I interpret his comments? In a very positive way. There’s only one team in London, so he’s happy. There are other interpretations, I understand that, but I think he’s happy here.
‘I hope that he will stay at the club but overall I think you have as well to be very cautious when people give interviews in their home countries.
‘The interpretation is not always exactly what they wanted to say. He said he wants to win the championship, that’s what everybody wants. I can understand that completely.’
Wenger also insisted Arsenal will refuse to sell Sanchez, who is entering the final 12 months of his contract, to any other Premier League club.
He said: ‘It is true (we have sold players to rivals) when we were in positions where, financially, we had to sell our best players. That’s not the case any more. Sanchez has one and a half years left on his contract. I don’t think it’s an immediate concern to Arsenal Football Club.’
Mesut Ozil is another who has yet to sign fresh terms and Wenger added: ‘I think once you go into the final two or three months of the season, everybody is focused on the end of the season and you give yourself more time in a more relaxed atmosphere between the two seasons.
‘I believe that both of them want to stay and I hope that the club will find an agreement.’
Wenger also promised to splash some cash this summer. He added: ‘It’s a strange season because we played 20 games unbeaten. But I cannot say we have no flaws or weaknesses because we have. I think there is a very, very strong basis but the team needs to be strengthened, of course.’