Arsene Wenger has played down stories from last week in which Mesut Ozil spoke about his own future at Arsenal in tandem with that of the manager (read the full transcript of his interview here).
The German is currently in negotiations with the club to extend his current deal which runs out in the summer of 2018, and the the Frenchman says there’s a lot more to the situation than whether he himself stays on at the club.
“I think he has been a bit misinterpreted,” he said.
“He would like to know what happens on the managerial front of course, but I don’t think that’s the main part of his decision. I think it’s part of it but it’s not the only thing.
“There are many other ingredients in every negotiation. Hopefully we will find a conclusion with him very quickly.”
Asked if it was something he had discussed with the 28 year old, Wenger continued, “We always speak. I speak more with his agent on that front, about contracts, than I do with him.”
He was also asked if both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez would need to lower their wage demands before any agreement was found.
“I do not want to go too much into detail on that, because that can quickly be interpreted in the wrong way,” he said.
“We have to keep that as quiet as possible and try to find an agreement and, at the end of the day, as well, respect our line of conduct that we always have.”
Wenger announces Alexis and Ozil sign 5 year extensions and he himself will be staying until the 2018 World Cup and thereafter Joachim Loew will take over.
(In my mind)
Wouldn’t like Löw, personally. Did very well with the German national side and is certainly a good manager, but I think we should be looking at people who are succeeding at the club level first. He hasn’t managed a club side for over a decade and never lasted more than two seasons at any of the clubs he was at before hand. Also wouldn’t like to see another manager come in during a summer where we a WC is going on. Half the squad will be away and won’t be playing until October. How we’d be able to effectively implement… Read more »
If Allegri comes, we’re settled. Look what an Italian does to the Premier League (last year, and look at Conte now).
If we get Allegri, I think we may just contend again
Stay, he will. Yes. His home, Arsenal is.
My mind is in a fix. As much as I love him and wanted him to extend his stay again, the other half of me wanted to see new blood. A younger manager with fresh and bold ideas. Wanted and need someone who is competent enough to bring us up to the next level
Did you have the ‘younger manager’ feeling when the fuck-wits were asking for Paul Jewel or Owen Coyle?
Maybe Tim Sherwood or David Moyes… How young is ‘younger’?
Lol, good reply. I agree but let’s see where we end up this season, or shall I say winning what this season. Wenger is great and we all have this affection for him but what the chap above was saying is not entirely incorrect – Someone like Simeonoe would be good bu I am with you that there is no guarantee he would do well – just look at Pep at city – and how much have they spent. I really want Wenger to win the PL, CL and everything under the sun so let’s pray it does happen and… Read more »
i dont think Simeone would be a good fit with this squad. Too much defensive frailty. Maybe somehow he unlocks the defensive aspects of an ozil, ox, walcott, even ramsey, or it would mean big shake up with squad as well
This is Pep’s first season, it is not even over and even if it was over tomorrow, hardly a time to call it a flop – there is a settling in period. Judge him over the next 2 or 3 years. As for Wenger, whatever way you slice it, the club that Arsenal is now, 12 years without a title for a club that is supposedly challenging for the competition every year is simply not good enough. A new manager can only take us up. It would not take much for a new manager to keep us in the top… Read more »
What about the young managers like Tuschel or Klopp or Pochettino?
Why can’t you find an example of a young manager doing well? It doesn’t suit your agenda smh
Wouldn’t like the idea of Joachim leow scratching his balls and having a sniff whilst in our dugout !
He just had trouble with his zip …
I think he does that to make the opposing manager forget about the game and just dread the full time handshake.
“There are many other ingredients in every negotiation. Hopefully we will find a conclusion with him very quickly.”
Looks like he is staying imo.
Get big Sam in
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BdttlBhIUAAYern.jpg
That is hilarious and disturbing at the same time.
As I mentioned before, I think the time line for Wenger’s stepping down will be pegged to the world cup (barring ‘disastrous’ season) Firstly, there will be plenty of high end managerial reshuffling then as a number of high profile national managers will bound to ‘move on’. Secondly it gives Wenger another season to transition the club and squad in preperation for the new gaffer. I think Wenger will have an ENORMOUS say at who comes in to supercede him. The manager coming in should preferably share similar ethos to build on our strengths. IF Wenger should not secure (say)… Read more »
I hope you are not right. Once Wenger leaves, he should leave fully, not leave an apparition behind haunting the dugout. I want a new manager with new ideas and a fresh outlook with a win at all costs mentality. Of course I would love to see good football, but who remembers the football when you win? Who cares about the football when you lose or draw 3-3?
5 year extensions?? Nothing like a good bit of positivity
Arsenal’s PR department putting in work! All these stories (ozil are carefully tailored to them announcing Wenger’s extension smh
Wait for Ancelotti’s contract to finish at Bayern. Won it all as player & manager.