Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal ace Sanchez is going nowhere
Chelsea have demanded Brazilian-born Diego Costa returns to the club after he failed to show up for pre-season having been told he was no longer part of Chelsea’s plans.
The striker accused Chelsea of treating him like a “criminal” and said he would remain at his family home in Brazil until he was given his transfer away from the London club.
Wenger, who has had to fight to keep Alexis Sanchez at the club this summer has accepted the winger may leave the club at the end of next season for free, when his contract expires.
Speaking to beIN SPORTS, the Arsenal boss suggested that the Sanchez situation was very different to that of Costa.
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Arsene Wenger said the Alexis Sanchez and Diego Costa situations could not be compared
He said: “I have enough problems not to make an assessment on Chelsea’s problems.
"This is a little bit of a special situation when you look from outside, it’s a little bit of a different situation.
“We always wanted to keep Sanchez and we always hope, even now, that we can extend the contracts of Sanchez, Chamberlain, Ozil.
“It’s difficult for me to analyse the Chelsea situation with Costa.”
Wenger is 'very happy' Arsenal doesn't have Coutinho situation
We always wanted to keep Sanchez
Arsene Wenger
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Wenger reassured Arsenal fans that Sanchez would be staying at the club this summer.
“For me, it looks logical so I am amazed that you are amazed because it looks normal,” he said. “If I sign a contract, I respect it.”
Costa, who last played for Chelsea in their 2-1 FA Cup Final defeat to Arsenal in May, was told by coach Antonio Conte via text that he would not be part of his long-term plans.
The Spanish striker has been linked heavily with a move back to Atletico Madrid, who can’t sign players until January as they are currently serving a transfer ban.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Ian Wright criticised the striker for not returning back to training.
He said: “What should be happening is that he should be back at Chelsea training. In your contract, you should be fit and ready if selected.
“I don’t know where somewhere along the line, that has gone out of the window with players.
“As soon as they don’t want to be there, they don’t turn up.”
