Do Not Sell My Personal Information
The gossip columns continue to link Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil with moves away from the Emirates in the January transfer window, but Arsenal would be mad to sell either. They combined to devastating effect to inspire Arsenal to an emphatic victory over Tottenham in Saturday’s North London derby and certainly put themselves in the shop window. The likes of Man City and PSG are said to be interested in Sanchez, while Barcelona now apparently see Ozil as a cut-price alternative to Philippe Coutinho. But Arsenal should stand firm.
If the Gunners were going to sell their prized assets, they should have done so in the summer, when they would have commanded higher prices. In January, with just six months left on their contracts, they would be sold on the cheap and it seems pointless. Arsenal have a chance of breaking back into the top four and earning the riches that come with Champions League qualification. But not without Sanchez and Ozil. They were the best attackers on the pitch on Saturday, totally eclipsing Harry Kane and Dele Alli and making a mockery of journalists’ combined North London XIs that featured barely any Gunners.
The Chilean bulldozed around the park in trademark fashion, crashing home the second goal and looking lively throughout. The German was man of the match thanks to the glorious weight of his passing, his intelligent movement and his ethereal reading of the game. Both pressed hard and bled for the cause, suggesting they will give it their all for the rest of the season. Selling them might raise £50 million in January, but Champions League qualification is worth at least that much, so Arsene Wenger might as well keep them and try to nail down a top four spot.
Sanchez, Ozil and Alexandre Lacazette form the sort of attacking triumvirate that can strike fear into the hearts of opposition defences. Arsenal have serious shortcomings elsewhere – the midfield looks lightweight, the defence leaks goals, Petr Cech is past his best – but that front three gives them a chance in any game. The Gunners are the outsiders to make the top four, priced around the 6/5 mark – longer odds than those available of Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Man Utd (bookmakers aren’t even bothering with high-flying Man City) – and that looks a good bet right now. Check a review of Bookmaker and take advantage of the best odds on the market, because Arsenal have a great chance of regaining their usual spot in the top four.
Their rivals all have their weaknesses too. Tottenham are far too reliant on a core group of first team players and when any of them is injured – particularly Harry Kane – they do not look half the team they usually are. Chelsea are inconsistent and they too crumble if N’Golo Kante is missing. Liverpool are great going forwards but shocking in defence. Even Man Utd often lack imagination and draw when they should be winning. All of those teams will drop plenty of points between now and the end of the season. If they play like they did on Saturday, Arsenal can beat any of them over 90 minutes, and we know they can tear apart the lesser teams.
They just need to find a level of consistency that has thus far eluded them. Selling two of their best players halfway though the season is not going to help achieve that. It is a difficult time to sign replacements and new signings need time to bed in, so it would derail Arsenal’s campaign to do business in January. Instead they should be bold, let Ozil and Sanchez leave for free in the summer and then set about rebuilding. Hopefully by then they will have Champions League revenue to help with that. It is certainly worth the gamble.
