Ray Wilkins says it’s sad and embarrassing that Mesut Özil and Alexis Sanchez remained at Arsenal over the summer.
Ozil and Alexis are both out of contract at the end of the season, so there was a lot of speculation that they would be sold before deadline day in the summer.
In the end, both players ended up staying, without any new contracts agreed with Arsenal. Ray Wilkins says this was a mistake, telling Sportingbet: “I would have sold Ozil in the summer, the same with Sanchez – it’s embarrassing.
“I find it quite sad that the club have allowed Wenger to take the stance of not selling them, potentially costing the club £120million in fees that they’re now not getting.
“Mesut Ozil won’t go to Old Trafford because he doesn’t have the work ethic that Mourinho looks for in his players. Ozil needs to go back to Germany, enjoy his football again and get around the pitch as he likes doing.
“In the Premier League, you’re expected to work hard defensively for your team, and I don’t think Mesut does that enough. Against Spurs, he was excellent in doing that, tracking Christian Eriksen, but he needs to do that every game, it can’t be one game in 20.”
When it comes to taking a financial loss on fees the Gunners could’ve brought in, it is a bit disappointing, especially if both players now leave for free.
But fans have spent years talking about how the money doesn’t matter, and that the board should be willing to make financial sacrifices to succeed. So from that point of view, it was a good move.
As for the comments about Mesut Özil, it’s nothing we haven’t heard a thousand times before. The stats show he works harder than Alexis, who is often praised for his work rate, so it’s hard to take those kinds of opinions seriously.
The point Wilkins makes about Özil not going to Old Trafford because he doesn’t fit Mourinho’s type of player is particularly bizarre.
José already signed him at Real Madrid, and has consistently complimented the German over the years, even adding a foreword to the 29-year-old’s recent book release.
If there’s any manager I think would be willing to take the playmaker this summer, it’s Mourinho.