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Alexis Sanchez: Chile forward will respect he is staying at Arsenal - Arsene Wenger

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Sanchez will stay at Arsenal - Wenger

Alexis Sanchez will stay at Arsenal for this season and will "respect" that decision, says manager Arsene Wenger.

The 28-year-old forward, who is a reported target for Manchester City and Paris St-Germain,external-link is entering the final year of his deal at Emirates Stadium.

He was granted an extended summer break after playing for Chile in the Confederations Cup but only returned to training on Tuesday after illness.

"The only thing I can tell you is he is focused," said Wenger.

"My decision is clear - he will stay and he will respect that."

The Frenchman, 67, said he would no longer speak publicly about speculation over Sanchez's future, adding: "It is not information anymore, it is suicide.

"He will be here for this season and if we manage to do it for more seasons, we will do it as well."

Wenger also confirmed that Spanish striker Lucas Perez will be allowed to leave the Gunners, with former club Deportivo La Coruna reportedly having made a bid to re-sign the 28-year-old.

"We have a congestion of strikers - I don't want to lose him but too much competition is not competition any more," said Wenger.

"If he finds a satisfying solution, at least for a short time, we will do it."

Perez joined Arsenal for £17.1m last summer after two seasons at Spanish side Deportivo, but has not played since March.

Arsenal signed Alexandre Lacazette for a club record £46.5m fee this summer, with the 26-year-old France striker given Perez's number nine shirt.

Wenger added there was "nothing to announce" about other players entering the final year of contracts, including midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 23, and 27-year-old left-back Kieran Gibbs.

FA Cup holders Arsenal face Premier League champions Chelsea in the Community Shield final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, with kick-off at 14:00 BST.

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271 comments

  • Comment posted by User0593293414, at 14:18 3 Aug 2017

    Part of me wants to congratulate Wenger on standing up to the power of players and their agents, even though as a City fan I'd love to see him move to the Etihad!

    However, with the transfer market as it is at the moment and the clubs interested, Arsenal could make a lot of money if they sell him. Instead they might lose him for £0 in 11 months. Is that really worth it?

  • Comment posted by Strangely Brown, at 14:32 3 Aug 2017

    Robin Van Persie will stay and he will respect that decision ....
    Cesc Fàbregas will stay and he will respect that decision ....

  • Comment posted by Rovlad, at 14:14 3 Aug 2017

    Let's check this out on the 1st of September.

  • Comment posted by PriceyBCFC, at 14:18 3 Aug 2017

    In other words... they're NOT letting him leave. Good news for Arsenal fans and he'll be a very good free Transfer next summer for someone

  • Comment posted by Philip Allen, at 14:26 3 Aug 2017

    It's a logical move. Arsenal need to get bac into the top 4. Much better chance with Sanchez in the team. being in the CL means they can attract better players, even if Sanchez departs. CL is worth more than the £50m or so they'd get for him and not in the CL means they'd be unlikely to get an adequate replacement. He'll spend the season advertising himself too.

  • Comment posted by James, at 14:17 3 Aug 2017

    Is it really worth forcing a player to stay for a year to then lose him for nothing? I can't see who benefits from this... odd decision if Sanchez wants to leave.

  • Comment posted by Mass, at 14:11 3 Aug 2017

    All smiles at the emirates!

  • Comment posted by oldduffer, at 14:30 3 Aug 2017

    so he's off then.

  • Comment posted by DMT, at 14:39 3 Aug 2017

    Also , i,m sure that many of the usual trolls will be disappointed to find that Alexis Sanchez doesnt do sulking, and doesnt need motivating. He,d play with a broken leg if he had to, he gives 100% every game all game, and that wont change. Dont we usually get accused by the usuals of being only interested in money ?
    How do you explain this one then ?
    Take your time .

  • Comment posted by aintreehammer, at 17:00 3 Aug 2017

    I admire your stance Arsene, but these days, players can (and often do) act like spoilt, petulant brats, and if they don't wanna play, then they ain't gonna play!

    As a West Ham fan, I will just say two more words...Dmitri Payet.

  • Comment posted by Captain Francois Dubonais, at 14:33 3 Aug 2017

    It's a brave move, for sure. Good strategy if Arsenal finish top 4 and recoup the money they may lose, brilliant if they win the title and he decides to stay on. Disastrous if they finish outside the top four and he walks. It also assumes they we see the same Sanchez that we saw last season and not a disgruntled, angry one. A poor start will cultivate that especially if City are doing well.

  • Comment posted by LilythePinky, at 16:16 3 Aug 2017

    15. Posted by Smithy "Feel sorry for the guy. He clearly wants to join City and reunite with Guardiola but he's been denied by Wenger and Arsenal.

    He's basically being stuck in a prison at a club with no hope of winning the league at all."

    He signed a contract, he should now stick to it otherwise it's chaos for ALL teams if players are alllowed to just jump ship.

  • Comment posted by Jason, at 14:22 3 Aug 2017

    To be honest, if transfers fees continue to escalate such as this then I think we'll see more players signing shorter contracts and moving for nothing every 2 or 3 seasons as this transfer fee escalation is unsustainable.

  • Comment posted by User0995303059, at 14:46 3 Aug 2017

    Well done AW: the more managers/clubs that make a point of making players see their contracts through, the better. Until there's a shake up in FFP rules/Agent commissions, it's a responsibility to fans that can only be met at club level. Clearly it's a gamble, but if they're flying in Nov, chances are he'll sign a bumper two-year deal. If I was a Gunner, I'd be pleased.

  • Comment posted by D1679154519106, at 15:36 3 Aug 2017

    Why is everyone convinced Sanchez is desperate to leave? Is it because the press keeps saying it, or because he is trying to negotiate the best deal for himself??

    Last I heard, if a player is desperate to leave he submits a transfer request. I haven't heard that Sanchez has done this (unlike Mahrez).

    He will stay imo and sign a new contract by end of the window (for obscene wages of course)

  • Comment posted by MH, at 15:43 3 Aug 2017

    Don't like this new font.

  • Comment posted by Over and over and over again, at 15:43 3 Aug 2017

    Most of the comments on this thread are laughable. If Arsenal sell then we're a selling club only interested in making money. If we keep Sanchez to HIS contract then we're allegedly imprisoning him....please!

  • Comment posted by Dope, at 16:13 3 Aug 2017

    Obviously Arsene Wenger and Alexis Sanchez have spoken and agreed about the upcoming season, which implies that Sanchez will give his all, Our placement in the league table come January will probably decide Sanchez's future and will be agreeable for all concerned... just reading between the lines here, don't quote me

  • Comment posted by Totalloser, at 14:20 3 Aug 2017

    Arsenal need a big season - or we stand to lose at least 100 million pounds worth of talent on a free.. Ozil, Ox and Sanchez. . Need to win the league or it will be an interesting last contract year for Wenger.

  • Comment posted by AngryAndy, at 15:32 3 Aug 2017

    71 No Arsenal player has contributed more? What planet are you on? Ian Wrtght, Henry, Van Perse(albeit he left!) Pires, Viera, Adams and don't forget Bergkamp........ and the list goes on & on & on & on!!
    As for depriving him of his ambition well that remains to be see and he isn't tied by "red tape", he's tied by a contract that he agreed to.

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