Alexis Sanchez saga has destabilised Arsenal admits Arsene Wenger as Manchester United finally close on the Gunners superstar
Emirates boss admits 'uncertainty has unsettled the team' after what he calls a 'disturbing' transfer window for his club
ARSENE WENGER admits the Alexis Sanchez saga has destabilised Arsenal.
The Chilean will finally complete his mega-money Manchester United move today after months of speculation.
Wenger said: “Yes, the uncertainty has unsettled the team. Overall January has been difficult for us, destabilising and disturbing in mid-season.”
Sanchez completed his medical at United’s Carrington HQ last night after he earlier flew to Manchester by private jet.
And, even though the Gunners are getting Henrikh Mkhitaryan in a straight swap deal, Wenger knows his team has been weakened by Sanchez’s exit.
The Gunners boss added: “We had big players concerned by moving away and that created a little more uncertainty and is destabilising as well.
“In every industry there are periods when the atmosphere is less enjoyable than others and this has been one of them.
“It is not the fact we are losing players, because all teams are used to that.
“It is the lack of clarity, the fact that there is uncertainty in the group and the other players don’t know if he will be here or not. Once it is clear that he is leaving, the team gets used to it.”
'ALEXIS WANTED TO STAY' Arsenal legend Robert Pires claims Alexis Sanchez wanted to stay at Emirates ahead of Manchester United transfer
Arsenal today hope to announce the arrival of Armenian star Mkhitaryan — who was 29 yesterday — after he finally agreed to leave United.
They are also closing in on a club-record £53milion deal for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis was spotted in Germany alongside head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and contract negotiator Huss Fahmy for talks with Dortmund over the Gabon hitman.
