It has been reported recently that Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez would be due for new contracts in the coming days due to their exceptional form. Arsene Wenger spoke to the media about those reports. He also went on to speak about the situations with players who left the club on sour terms, similar to the situations of Robin van Persie to Manchester United and Samir Nasri to City.
Wenger’s comments on the German star who may get a new contract might scare a big portion of the fanbase, but he says there is no need to panic.
We have not started to talk about that with Mesut.
He elaborated when he was asked about the Chilean winger.
We are in the same situation. At the end of the year they have two-and-a-half years left on their contract so we still have some time. We are not in a hurry. Of course we want them to stay here at the club and we will start the negotiations at some stage. At the moment we have not started them.
Some fans may not have realised how long each player has left on their deals but it is safe to assume that all would like to see them contracted for the foreseeable future, with Özil being linked to Germany and Turkey and Alexis being linked to Real Madrid and Premier League rivals Manchester United. The manager spoke on when he wants to start talks with the players.
From the New Year to the summer we will certainly start it with all the players who have two years to go at the end of the season.
This, of course, includes Özil and Sanchez, who have been crucial to the success of the north London club this season. Wenger went on to speak about a sensitive subject for Arsenal supporters; how Robin van Persie, Bacary Sagna, and Samir Nasri left the club.
Look, that depends sometimes on age. Yes, the difference is that today we are in a stronger position to negotiate than we were at that stage.
The Frenchman also spoke about another sensitive subject in the entirety of world football, gay men being respected both on and off the pitch.
Of course. I believe when you watch a football player, you don’t want to know what his sexuality is. What you want to see is a football player, no matter how he is in his private life. Of course you want to respect everybody. It has become more tolerant towards that situation.
I wouldn’t like to say it’s perfect but it’s certainly better than 10 years ago.
