The Times claim that no significant progress has been made in discussions with the star pair and that any deals are unlikely to have to wait until after the end of the transfer window.

‘Arsenal will start the Premier League season with doubts surrounding the long-term futures of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sánchez after failing to agree new contracts with their two biggest stars over the summer,’ The Times report.

‘The club first began contract negotiations with both players’ representatives last September in the hope of tying them down to long-term deals, but no real progress has been made and the talks will not resume until after the transfer window closes at the end of the month.’

This is likely to be a defining saga of the season so you might as well get used to it.

http://www.football365.com/news/sanchez-and-ozil-stall-on-new-arsenal-deals-report

all depends on our signings.. why the fuck would they keep wasting their time here if the manager is unwilling to make the signings we so clearly need and has the means to do so, but refuses?

2 options.. we sign a couple fucking players and make a real push for the title and we keep ozil & alexi.. the other is we make bargain basement signings, finish 3rd/4th again and they are gone.. which bring us back to where we were 5 years ago

We will sign some players and extend them both.

It's difficult not to project but I really do believe it depends on what we do in the market. Can't imagine they're feeling particularly enthusiastic about the coming season.

They aren't going to extend if this is another groundhog season. Expect that they won't as Wenger isn't for changing and I don't see us moving forward beyond our usual defensive calamity and poor finishing or problems.

Funny how we always have an issue resolving our top players contacts, yet we consistently go back to dross and renew them each time.

It's nothing to worry about.

Chill guys and look at something beautiful

If nothing else, the fact that there are three players at United - none of which are better players than Özil and Sanchez - on 300k a week, twice as much as our two are earning, is going to make negotiations interesting.

marv3llous wrote:

Chill guys and look at something beautiful

I'll take Alexis, you can have Ozil.

Dean reckons Mesut has agreed and will sign a new deal, just formalities to complete. Great news if true.

I don't see this as a major cause of concern unless off course wenger confirms his dementia by having a 'bad' transfer window and the club failing to mount a serious title challenge. EVEN then we are no longer cash strapped and as mkhitaryan deal showed we can get proper transfer fee for them if they want to leave.

24 days later

Özil has confirmed that talks are ongoing and that he wants the vacant no. 10 shirt:

'It just went free, and I definitely want it,' said Ozil when he was asked about the Arsenal No 10 shirt inan interview with German newspaper Express.

'I'd wanted the number for years but so did Lukas Podolski. And he got to keep it because he had more caps than I did. Now I've pounced.

'The number fits me and my position: play-maker.' 

Ozil said the number meant a lot to him, as it put him in a lineage of sorts. 'It's my favourite number. Football legends like Zinedine Zidane, Diego Maradona and Pele wore that number on their backs. I'm really very happy to have it.'

'I've got a deal that takes me through 2018. We've had talks, but we broke them off during the Euros so I could concentrate on the national team. Let's see where the negotiations go from here.'

Ozil went on to say he was happy in London and appreciated the support he got from the Arsenal fans.

'They like me and the way I play football...it's a lot of fun playing in England.'

Still, Ozil added he wouldn't rule out a return to the Bundesliga at some stage, and said he could 'definitely' imagine playing in the United States before his career was up.

'My fans know I like to spend my holidays in Los Angeles. It's an exciting city - one of my favourites.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-3772463/Mesut-Ozil-says-definitely-wants-number-10-Arsenal-shirt-Jack-Wilshere-left-Bournemouth-loan-move.html

Did they really just take his words about the German no.10 and spin them? Well done.

😆 He even mentioned Podolski by name and referenced the number of international caps!

They also spin it that he plans on spending the final leg of his career at LA Galaxy

must be fun to be a journalist.
but, yeah, Ozil should be wearing the number 10 shirt at Arsenal. other players will get in where they fit in.

I agree. I never warmed to the idea of Jack #10, besides, even if he comes back, he wont play AM for us, rather he'll be what Cazorla is atm.