It took a while, but Arsene Wenger finally bent to fans' demand that he "spend some fucking money" by splurging on Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Both are entering the final year of their contracts this season, with Wenger in no mood for budging regarding Sanchez, to the extent that he is willing to risk losing him for nothing next year.
The rest of this summer, however, is likely to signal a return to the relative parsimony that characterised Wenger's reign before the signing of Ozil. While they spent relatively big on Alex Lacazette, the rest of the summer is expected to test the oil on the Exit Door only.
Jeremy Wilson reports that Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain is free to leave, with the club awaiting a bid from Liverpool, Chelsea, or both for the 24-year-old. Kieran Gibbs is more or less gone to Watford, while Shkodran Mustafi is to be allowed leave for Inter Milan.
Arsenal ready to sell Ox after 180k-a-week offer but waiting for Liv/Chelsea to bid. Gibbs fee agreed + they're open to selling Mustafi
— Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) August 26, 2017
Arsene Wenger admitted after last weekend's defeat to Stoke that he was unimpressed with his central defence (he played three centre backs: Monreal, Mustafi, and Kolasinac), but per Wilson, it looks unlikely that Mustafi (or Gabriel) will be replaced:
No expectation of major Arsenal incomings. Sense they'd rather wait to see if Lemar/Van Dijk became feasible next year than go down list now
— Jeremy Wilson (@JWTelegraph) August 26, 2017
We await the entirely reasoned, rational reaction from Arsenal FanTV.
