Arsenal news: Arsene Wenger calls for January transfer window to be scrapped

The Arsenal boss experienced a disastrous summer transfer window, bringing in just two new signings in the shape of Alexandre Lacazette and Sead Kolasinac. 

He tried to bring in Monaco winger Thomas Lemar after a £92million deadline day bid was accepted by the Ligue 1 champions, but the player opted against a move to the Emirates. 

But it was Wenger’s current players - particularly Alexis Sanchez - who have been giving him the biggest headache. 

Sanchez has refused to sign a new deal at Arsenal and has been heavily linked with a move away from the club.

The Chile international came close to joining Manchester City, but they blocked his proposed switch to the Etihad at the last minute after failing to land Lemar. 

Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho was another well-documented player who failed to secure a move despite handing in a transfer request to become Neymar’s long-term replacement at Barcelona.

Both Sanchez and Coutinho could seal their desired transfers once the window reopens in January. 

But Arsene Wenger reckons that it should be removed as wantaway players and those on the fringes of their respective teams will be more focused on their next move rather than playing for their current clubs. 

"The players who do not play or the players who are tapped up in October they already start again to think: 'Where do I go in January?'. That's not a way to be on board with a football club..." Wenger told beIN Sports.

"We are here to entertain people and you can do that with people who are really on board together, to achieve something together and not every minute that it doesn't go well to think: 'Where can I go next?'"

The Gunners boss has instead called for a single annual transfer window at the end of the season in a bid to restore the decency of the sport. 

"I believe that we have to bring some decency. We all complain today that it has become too much a business, but we can do something about it. We have that responsibility in the game," he added. 

"You can't have a player preparing for a vital football game and still be on the phone at 4 o'clock: 'Do I go or not?' or 'How much is it?', 'Where do I go?'

"The ideal situation would be to have a transfer period that is closed 48 hours before the first game of the championship and to close it completely until the season after."