As the Gunners continue towards another season of overall disappointment, many fans are already turning their attentions to next season.
However, with this latest campaign offering less encouragement than some of recent years, the questions and hopes are a little different this time around.
It’s not a case of “next season will be our year” or “we just need a striker, holding player and a centre back to challenge”. The key focus right now is on where the manager will be next year and where the club’s two biggest signings ever will be.
Much has already been written about Arsene Wenger and so here we focus instead on Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. The rumours have been swirling for some time now and with a very real chance that one or both could leave the club this summer, we take a look at where Arsenal’s two most expensive players might be playing their trade next term.
Alexis Sanchez
Alexis Sanchez was signed from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 for a fee of around £35m. He has done well for the Gunners and is one of the few unequivocal success stories when it comes to Arsene Wenger transfers.
The combative Chilean is just the sort of player Arsenal needed but he has been unable to lead the team alone. Despite his 64 goals in 135 games (including 10 from the bench), Arsenal have enjoyed only modest success during his time at the club.
The 2015 FA Cup is the only honour Sanchez has won and with no serious title challenge or Champions League run in his time, the former Udinese man is thought to be keen to leave the club.
Despite these rumours, the odds on the forward being at Arsenal next term are quite short at 7/4. If he is to leave the Emirates, Chelsea is ranked by the oddsmakers as his most likely destination. A controversial move west can be backed at odds of 4/1 with BetVictor. PSG are next at 11/2, with Man City rated a 7/1 shot and a return to Italy with Juventus is 10/1.
This is a tough one to call and much will depend on what happens with Wenger and whether the club win the top four trophy again. However, we fancy that a move to the French capital may suit Sanchez and 11/2 looks a shade big to us.
Mesut Ozil
Mesut Ozil joined the Gunners on transfer deadline day in 2013. Arsenal paid Real Madrid a reported £42.5m for the German playmaker and his signing was expected to usher in a new era at the club. At last, Wenger had splashed the cash for real quality and finally, it was hoped, his side could push for a Premier League title.
Things haven’t worked out like that and despite Ozil being unplayable at times, many fans believe he has gone missing when it matters. That debate is for another time but, despite reservations some may have about the World Cup winner, Ozil remains a much sought after player.
He will have just one more year left on his contract in the summer and it is thought he could leave the club for a relatively low fee. At present, he is ranked a 15/8 shot to move to Manchester United after Jose Mourinho was reported to be interested in signing him.
A return to Real Madrid is offered at odds of 11/4, with a move back to Germany available at 5/2. PSG are an 11/2 option, with Juve 5/1 and a trio of German clubs, Bayer Leverkusen, Werder Bremen and Borussia Dortmund all available at around 9/1.
In short, it seems the bookies think Ozil could end up just about anywhere next season! He seems more likely to leave the club than Sanchez does in our eyes. We think the appeal of winning trophies makes Juve a decent bet at 5/1 but again PSG could appeal.
Stats and latest odds provided by www.footballbettinghub.com