Yeah I agree and I honestly feel mugged off by him for not being arsed last season. He thinks he's too good now even though his performances weren't good enough for him to be in our team. I hope Arsenal do offer the right money and he leaves but it will take the right money for our owners to let him leave.
Ultimately I expect his poor performances last season to come back and bite him because I'm not sure anyone will pay £50m based on last season, even though he's worth it. It might turn out to be a lesson for him to always put in 100% because if he comes back and puts 100% in then he'll earn his move.
He's already said he might be still here so I don't think that will be a problem. Loads of clubs refuse to sell their players and they just get on with it and I do expect Mahrez to come back with the right attitude. Our owners won't be bullied into letting him leave cheap, absolutely zero chance of that happening.
I would prefer Lemar over Mahrez though for sure. If we keep Sanchez, add Lacazette and Lemar - that would be an awesome Summer.
What about if you fail to sign Lemar and Mahrez and just sign Lacazette? I think it's realistic to assume that Arsenal won't match our asking price and our owners don't want to sell him and won't sell him cheap, especially not to a rival. I could see us letting Barca have him for £35m but that's as low as they would go and only because he won't be playing against us. Thais are extremely loyal people and they expect loyalty back so they will expect him to honour his contract if a sufficient bid isn't received, they won't be bullied into letting him get his own way and leave on the cheap, there's literally zero chance of that happening. Mahrez has already conceded that he might still be here so I don't see him kicking off if we don't get a decent offer for him, he's going to need to get his head down otherwise he won't play and then he'll never get a move. He's put himself in a very tricky situation here.
Another thing in all of this is that Sanchez might be thinking, actually I'm 28 and being offered a 3-4 year IF (and it's a big if) Sanchez stays and signs a new contract then that would be the best deal Wenger has done. Do we really believe that Arsenal are really going to get Lacazette, Lemar, and (according to the papers today) Mbappe for £125m. This would mean us spending £210m in this window, which if true may sway Sanchez and Ozil to stay and sign. Or will the splurge be funded by selling: Sanchez to City £50m, Giroud to Everton £20m Gibbs for £10m Szczesny £20m Wallcott £25m Ox £30m Chambers £15m and Bellerin £40m which all adds up to £210m ! Coincidence ?
Lol I don't think they would be crazy enough to do that. The only player I can think about who has a questionable future is Sanchez, but I've also got a feeling that he stays. We have plenty of money so don't need to sell to strengthen. Even for our conservative Board, we should have at least £100m to play with. It's not just us but I think the management should know they need some serious additions to get us competitive. The PL is very tough and everyone else is strengthening. They have no choice but to strengthen.
Am I alone in worrying as much about which forward we sign as I am about the growing likelihood of losing young Hector? He would be a massive loss what with our new formation. Thanks Mr Conte
Feel quite confident that we'll retain Bellerin. But I can imagine it will get tougher. We don't have to sell so the buyer will find it hard, unless he forces the move.
Pretty sure Bellerin will stay. He's basically a cockney dego and I think he likes it at Arsenal. He wasn't at his best last season, but came good towards the end and played a blinder in the FA cup final.
Saying it again, despite the inevitable transfer rumours, the only facts so far are that 1. No bids have been made for Sanchez. 2. He has said that his mind is made up. If this is the case, then how can he have made up his mind to leave if nobody has come in for him ? The only logical conclusion (at the moment) is that he's made his mind up to stay.
I'm leaning on him staying, unless some deal has been made and it's mega undercover and Wenger has a mega signing up his sleeve. Most probable is him staying but things can change quite quickly. I'm waiting just in case there's some unusual suspects type twist at the end.
I reckon City would make a bid, but I'm pretty sure that Arsenal will tell them beforehand that there is no way that they will sell him to them. My (cautious) feeling at the moment is that Sanchez will still be an Arsenal player next season. If we have him Lacazette and Ozil in the team next year along with hopefully Lemar and (dreaming) Mbappe. Then Arsenal will be title contenders.
You'll also have a front 4 who do zero work defensively, no top quality DM to protect the defence, and more than one dodgy CB. Your probably isn't - and never has been - scoring goals. It is the sheer lack of grit and graft epitomised by players like Ozil. The fact that Wenger is chasing mega money deals for Lacazette and Lemar demonstrates that he still doesn't get this, and still thinks you can win the league by dancing your way past the opposition.
Only have three spaces for 'attackers' in our new formation. We already know we'll have three CBs, Bellerin, Kolasinac and two central midfielders (probably Ramsay and Xhaka) starting. Sanchez, Ozil, Lacazette, Lemar and Mbappe? If we're going to sell someone then sell Ozil as he's got limited worth in a front threw and no way can he play in the central two. He'd be the weakest of the five named above in a front three. Sell Ozil to Bayern for £40m, keep Sanchez even if it means no contract signature. Sign Lemar and Lacazette... Steamroller the league this season and go 10 points clear by January (I wish) and make Sanchez realise that sticking around would be worthwhile and get him to sign a new contract in January.
He's a LB isn't he? While I'm here stirring trouble anyway, I could also add that Cech's best days are behind him.
