Arsenal arrived in Sydney this morning as they prepare for the first match of their pre-season on Thursday but the news concerning the Gunners is largely orientating around potential transfers, with a wealth of their stars linked with moves to rival Premier League sides and across Europe.
The Gunners have moved swiftly this summer to capture Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette but there is a danger of their successes in the market being wiped out by potential departures, as a host of their important squad players have been linked with exits.
Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are the most concerning pair to be attracting the interest of rival Premier League sides, as the dup have entered the final 12 months of their contract and could leave on a free transfer next summer, whilst the signing of Lacazette has led to increased speculation that Olivier Giroud will leave as he battles to keep hold of his place within the France squad ahead of next year’s World Cup.
Losing Alexis Sanchez could definitely provide the biggest blow, with Manchester City heavily linked to the Chilean’s signature, and Arsenal are determined not to approve a sale. However, the danger is that they may find themselves powerless to stop the two-time Copa America winner leaving next summer- and they’d get nothing for his services.
The situation with Oxlade-Chamberlain is similar, as Arsenal must show the England international will get increased first-team chances at the Emirates Stadium to keep hold of the former Southampton man- which shouldn’t be too much of a problem considering his fine performances in the back-end of last season.
Oxlade-Chamberlain excelled in a wing back role, even playing on the left-hand side in the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, and showed his versatility with positive performances earlier in the campaign playing in central midfield- a position where he sees his future, although he faces a battle to secure consistent opportunities in that area.
Giroud, meanwhile, could be the most difficult to keep hold of as the French striker wants regular first-team football which may not be forthcoming following the club-record deal for his compatriot Lacazette. However, Arsenal may rotate their ranks due to involvement in the Europa League.
Arsenal are determined to keep hold of each of the aforementioned trio but face a challenge if any of the players demand an exit, especially as any departures will need to be replaced by further incoming additions- handing a huge blow to the Gunners plans for the summer.