ARSENAL BOSS ARSENE Wenger says Alexis Sanchez should not be considered a “mercenary” for opting to join Manchester United rather than renewing his contract at the Emirates Stadium.
Sanchez made the move to Old Trafford on Monday, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan switching the other way in a swap deal.
The Chilean is reported to be earning £350,000 a week at Old Trafford, vastly in excess of Arsenal’s top-earning players, having entered the last six months of his Gunners contract without penning fresh terms.
Wenger previously appeared to suggest Sanchez had moved for money, citing the forward’s desire to secure ”his last contract” and claiming he “cannot understand” why the 29-year-old wanted to leave Arsenal.
But the Frenchman appeared to row back on his comments when he spoke to the media on Tuesday ahead of his side’s League Cup semi-final second leg at home to Chelsea.
“Of course the financial aspect is important but he could combine both [by joining United],’ said Wenger.
“I think he’s going to a great club and he gets a great contract, so you can understand that a professional player can combine both aspects
“I ask you what is the difference between a professional and a mercenary? I wouldn’t say he is a mercenary.
“For me it is not a problem the money you pay. What is important is what you do once you have signed someone.
“If I sign for Arsenal tomorrow for one pound then my responsibility is exactly the same if I sign for £100million. I will give my best once I signed. I don’t care what the others make.”
Mkhitaryan was unwanted at Old Trafford but the Armenia playmaker has been given a chance to revive a career that once thrived in the Bundesliga with Borussia Dortmund.
And Wenger confirmed Arsenal tried to buy Mkhitaryan before he made the move to Manchester United in 2016.
“I met him and we were close at the time but, in the end, it didn’t work,” Wenger said.
“You worry about how much it [not playing at United] has affected him but it’s a new chance for him and that’s what you want in life. With his quality, I’m sure that he will take it. I might have to analyse with him how it went [at United], what we can do, how can we help him?
“Personally, I see him first wide but I’m thinking as well that there is the possibility for him to play through the middle as a number 10, or even deeper.”
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Won’t impact them really. Those are not huge losses. Munster v Wasps– now that was a squad decimated by COVID.
Serious chance here lads
@whoowhat?: you mean there’s a chance……
@whoowhat?: Eden Park, that would be historic altogether.
@Keith McCarthy: in llyod christmas’s world maybe
@daveyt: so you’re telling me there’s a chance ?
@Sean McCarthy: too right mate, put a few shrimp on the barbie ;)
What do people make of those billboards they’ve put up anywhere the Irish team are due to go? Stinks of desperation if you ask me. Are the NZ team embarrassed by them or are they lacking confidence that they take solice in them? If anything they’re going to fuel the fire in the Irish camp, probably exactly what we need after Ulster and Leinster feeling a bit dejected after the URC exits.
@SPQH: billboards?
@SPQH: take it as a compliment and a laugh, Irish bookmakers have done same, but much witter and better. Its really a non story
@SPQH: A Kiwi gambling company TAB NZ behind this.
Good luck to them provoking Paddy Power’s social media team!
@Paul Kennedy: wittier*
@SPQH: i don’t think they matter much, if it generates a bit of rivalry and sells more tickets fair play, maybe is a compliment that NZ fans are taking Ireland seriously.
@Paul Kennedy: OK fair enough, didn’t realise it was a bookmakers that was behind it.
@Doug Storms: Yeah, 3 outside Missouri.
Ireland can give back the players they robbed from new Zealand
@Tony Mcgrath: and then New Zealand can give back all the players they robbed from Tonga, somoa etc it works both ways
@Sole Trader: Australia & Scotland too.
@Tony Mcgrath: Ah c’mon. You can be more creative than “robbed”. Put some effort in man.
@Tony Mcgrath: robbed? Like what they did to Isa?
Getting Joe Schmidt on board reeks of desperation from Foster I think .
@Macus Mc Mahon: more like Feeks
All Blacks obviously taking a leaf out of the Tyrone playbook. Ireland beware .