The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Wenger gets to work on new Gunners deals
arsenal: Veteran manager insists star duo Sanchez and Ozil will not leave the Emirates
Arsene Wenger has revealed Arsenal are working to get several key players tied down to new deals at the Emirates Stadium.
Contract extensions for both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have dominated the back pages this week, with reports the pair are seeking parity with the highestpaid players in the Premier League.
Wenger said yesterday morning that he will not allow the pair to leave Arsenal even if they do not sign fresh contracts, opening up the possibility that the two most expensive signings in the club’s history could leave for free.
But, as well as Ozil and Sanchez, there are a host of other big names who are yet to sign new terms with the Gunners.
Kieran Gibbs, Olivier Giroud, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mathieu Debuchy and Jack Wilshere all have a year and a half left on their current contracts.
And Wenger said it is normal to be in such a situation before announcing talks had opened with a number of those players whose contract ends are in sight.
“There are six or seven cases at the moment but that is the usual case, it is every year like that,” he said.
“That explains to you why we have a lot of work to do but you are only interested in two cases (Sanchez and Ozil).”
He also confirmed talks had opened with Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has impressed in recent weeks, especially in the 5-1 thrashing of West Ham last Saturday.
Wenger said last month he will also look to talk to Wilshere, currently on loan at Bournemouth, in the new year.
Injured duo Per Mertesacker and Santi Cazorla have just over six months remaining on their deals, although Arsenal have the option to take up another one-year extension with both players.