Arsenal transfer news: Alexis Sanchez insists new contract 'depends on' Gunners, not him
Negotiations over the 27-year-old's new contract are progressing slowly, as he demands a significant pay rise from the club
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Your support makes all the difference.Alexis Sanchez has insisted that he is happy at Arsenal and that it is up to the north London club to end the resolve the uncertainty over his future.
The 27-year-old is in an impressive vein of form on the pitch, scoring six in his last five games, but the slow progress in negotiations over a new contract has dominated headlines.
Both Sanchez and his team-mate Mesut Özil will see their current deals expire in the summer of 2018 and have asked for significant pay increases in order to stay on at the Emirates.
Sanchez, who currently earns £130,000-a-week, has now spoken out about the impasse, claiming that he is more than happy to stay at Arsenal and that the ball is in his club’s court.
When asked about his contract, he told Sky Sports: “To be quite honest, right now I’m more focused on winning football matches. I’m staying concentrated on that side of things.
“It doesn’t really depend on me so much as it does the club, if they want to show confidence in me.
“I’m very happy here, I love it here, I love all the staff, the cooks, the employees that do so much for us,” he added.
“I’m very grateful to everybody, and as I say I’m very happy here. So it depends on Arsenal.”
Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has consistently spoke of his confidence that both Sanchez and Ozil will commit themselves to new contracts.
I’m very grateful to everybody, and as I say I’m very happy here. So it depends on Arsenal.
“There is no concern, not at all. There is no concern, I answer you straight away,” he said at his pre-match press conference ahead of Sunday’s trip to Manchester City.
“You waste your time because these players have 18 months [left on their] contract and I don’t see why there is any urgency in every press conference to have that question.
“Maybe you lack a bit of creativity in the newspapers and you always come up with the same subject. I don’t see why that should turn up in every press conference.”
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