Things are now not the same any more, for sure kwa hii tutakua na wakati mgumu though it will all come to pass....
Arsenal will reluctantly listen to offers for Mesut Ozil next summer if he does not lower his astronomical wage demands.
Both Ozil and Alexis Sanchez only have 18 months remaining on their contracts, and Arsenal are still hopeful of striking an agreement with the star duo.
Chelsea are the latest club to join the queue of interested parties monitoring the situation of Sanchez, but it is Ozil who is currently thought to be more expendable if Arsenal are forced to consider cashing in.
Some sources claim Ozil and Sanchez want £20million-a-year, £384,000-a-week, to re-sign with the Gunners and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has appealed for them not to let money decide their futures.
Arsenal could risk letting the pair enter the final 12 months of their agreements if no compromise deals can be struck, but Telegraph Sport understands any big offers for Ozil would be looked at if he does not sign an extension.
Arsene Wenger has told Mesut Ozil he could become a club legend like Tony Adams
Ozil last week hinted that he is open to a return to Real Madrid, while Bayern Munich could also be interested in taking the 28-year-old back to Germany.
While Wenger and Arsenal have no desire to let Ozil go, it would appear the club think he would be easier to replace than Sanchez.
Neither Ozil nor Sanchez would be prepared to earn less than the other at the Emirates. Arsenal could afford to pay £15m-a-year, £288,000-a-week, to one of them but it is unlikely they would sanction such a big contract for both men.
Ozil is currently the highest paid player at Arsenal on £140,000-a-week, £10,000 more than Sanchez. Manchester City and Juventus have so far shown the most interest in the Chile international, with Chelsea now watching developments closely.
Replacing either Ozil or Sanchez would be a hugely difficult task and Wenger has already lined up Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus as a potential target at the end of the season.
But, as Wenger has found in recent years, finding top-class strikers who fit into Arsenal’s budget is far harder than signing attacking midfielders.
Sanchez has this season been deployed as Arsenal’s central striker with spectacular results, as the former Barcelona man has already hit 11 Premier League goals this season and is the division’s joint top scorer with Diego Costa.
He became frustrated with life at Arsenal last season, but his attitude has markedly improved this term and he appears happier.
Ozil has also insisted he is happy at the Emirates, but fluttered his eyelids towards his former club Real in an interview in Spain that was published last week.
Asked directly if he would be open to a return to Real, Ozil, who joined Arsenal for £42.5m from the Spaniards in 2013, was reported to have smiled and replied: “You never know.”
He said: “I am very happy playing in such a big club like Arsenal, which has amazing fans and they also encourage me a lot. I am playing very well in London, but in football you never know… We’ll see what happens in the future.”
On the subject of whether or not he missed Madrid, Ozil added: “I miss the times [laughs]. That sun is… there is always sun. I tell you, I have great memories from there, with the club, the city, people.
Since his arrival in 2013, Ozil has become the attacking force around which Wenger has built his side
“Of course, sometimes you stop and think and well, you can miss it. Now I am happy at Arsenal, but you never know what can happen in the future. We will see.”
While Arsenal sweat over the futures of Ozil and Sanchez, Wenger has insisted the club will also offer a new contract to Jack Wilshere, who is out on loan at Bournemouth.
Former England midfielder Ray Wilkins believes Arsenal should keep Wilshere and let Ozil go, saying: “I’d have Sanchez all day long. I’d bring Jack Wilshere back and let Ozil go.
“I think Jack is thoroughly enjoying himself at Bournemouth. He is actually playing week in, week out and you can see progress he is making. Thankfully he is over the injury problems he has had in the past.
“I think Jack Wilshere could be the equal of Ozil, if not better. He has a total commitment around the pitch. Ozil has wonderful touches, but when he plays against the big teams sometimes you see him go missing.”
