Arsenal News LIVE updates: Alexis Sanchez speaks out, Raheem Sterling swoop in January

Arsenal News LIVE updates: Follow below for the latest news and gossip from the Emirates

Wednesday September 6

Cech speaks out

22:35: Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech says Jose Mourinho has a win at all costs mentality - something Arsene Wenger is missing at the Gunners.

“When he [Mourinho] arrived at Chelsea from Porto, he brought the main thing: he came from a club where it was not acceptable to him to finish second of the championship.

“He brought the same spirit in Chelsea. He thinks only about victory, whatever the price.

“He hates draws. If we returned to the dressing room with a draw, it was known that he would not be satisfied.

“On the other hand, he also wanted be able to keep a 1-0 or beat a team 5-0 if possible. No matter how, Mourinho wants the result.

“The philosophy at Arsenal is completely opposed to this.

“It is not win at all costs but we want to win with a good way of playing. This is beginning to change in our approach.”

Mbappe snub

19:58: Kylian Mbappe has revealed he turned down Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to sign for boyhood club Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe said: "Yes, I met with Arsene Wenger, who is a great coach.

"He has a great reputation here in France, he's well-respected and knows how to develop young players. 

“This was a real option for me. But, of course, Paris Saint-Germain was the main option."

Ox suits Liverpool better - Gale

16.45: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain suits Liverpool’s style of play more than he did Arsenal, according to Sky Sports pundit Tony Gale.

“Do you know what I think it’s going to suit Oxlade-Chamberlain a lot better at Liverpool than it did at Arsenal,” Gale said.

“I think he will be in a more organised team and his high energy game will be able to press and that’s what he didn’t do at the Arsenal. 

“They didn’t really give teams the regard that they should have done and didn’t give them the respect.”

Arsenal over Tottenham - Lescott

16.20: Sky Sports pundit Joleon Lescott says he would sign for Arsenal ahead of north London rivals Tottenham.

Lescott admits Tottenham looks like a brighter prospect for players at the moment but reckons he would have a better chance of getting a game at Arsenal.

“Me personally I would probably sign for Arsenal due to the fact that Spurs have a better defence and I probably wouldn’t play!” Lescott said on Sky Sports.

“In terms of progression and looking forward you probably would say Spurs. 

“The way they’re building a new stadium, the players and the squad that they’ve got, the way they like to play.”

Wenger is dated - Lescott

15.40: Arsenal’s failed deadline day move for Thomas Lemar showcases the fact that Arsene Wenger’s methods are dated, according to former Manchester City and England defender Joleon Lescott.

Lescott says Arsenal should have offered the required amount much earlier than they did, a problem which has been common in Wenger’s reign.

"His knowledge of the game is second to none,” Lescott said on Sky Sports of the Gunners boss.

“I’m just sure the way he’s going about things is a little bit dated due to the fact that two weeks ago Arsenal were willing to spend £45million on Lemar and then two weeks later they doubled it.

“Stop worrying about what players cost and just look at what they can bring to the team and pay the asking prices for them players.”

Arsenal 3/1 to re-sign Sagna

13:50: Arsenal are in the running to sign France international Bacary Sagna, according to the bookies.

The right-back left London for Manchester City in 2014 after 284 appearances for the club, but he’s now a free agent after being released by Pep Guardiola’s side.

BetStars Director of Trading Ian Marmion said: “Arsenal are 3/1 contenders to snap up 34-year-old Bacary Sagna, who is currently a free agent after being released by Manchester City.

“Former French International Sagna spent seven seasons with the Gunners and won the FA Cup in 2014 before moving north to join the Etihad side.

“Serie A side Torino are favourites to sign Sagna and are priced at 5/2 with BetStars to recruit him to replace Davide Zappacosta, who made a deadline day switch to Chelsea.

“Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United are also interested in signing the experienced right-back. The Eagles are 7/2 to bring him to Selhurst Park with Premier League champions Chelsea poised at 5/1.

“A move to Old Trafford can be backed at 7/1 as Jose Mourinho seeks defensive reinforcements amid an injury outbreak.”

UEFA chief backs transfer window changes

13:25: UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has backed calls for the close-season transfer window to end before the start of the domestic league season across Europe.

The chairmen of the 20 English Premier League clubs will vote at a shareholders meeting on September 7 to decide if their window should close before the season starts and several managers have voiced their support for the change.

The current transfer deadline is on August 31 while the Premier League began on August 11. The proposed change to the window requires 14 out of 20 votes to go through.

The idea has received support as it removes uncertainty and prevents the loss of key players after the start of the season.

"I am aware there are serious discussions around Europe regarding the shortening of the summer transfer window and we are following them closely," the head of European football's governing body told The Times in an emailed statement.

"In my view, it is not good when footballers play for one club when the league starts and another club when the transfer window closes. There is a lot of uncertainty for a long time.

"Therefore I would say that the window might be too long and I would support it being shorter."

Frustrated Alexis 

12:45: How did wantaway Alexis Sanchez perform during the international break?

After looking thoroughly frustrated for most of Arsenal's 4-0 thrashing at Liverpool and then seeing Manchester City's bid to sign him fail, Sanchez played the full duration of Chile's two World Cup qualifiers during the break, both of which ended in defeat.

A 3-0 home loss to Paraguay was followed by a 1-0 reverse in Bolivia - with Sanchez reportedly having had to deal with an ankle problem in the build-up to the latter.

Lescott: Ox victim of his own talent

11:55: Liverpool new-boy Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is hindered by his ability to play in a number of positions, according to pundit Joleon Lescott.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has played numerous roles for both club and country, including wing-back in his final few games for Arsenal.

Lescott says his attributes which make him versatile has affected his desire to play in central midfield.

“A lot has been made of his football intelligence,” Lescott said on Sky Sports of the Liverpool man. I think that will show and I think that has shown with that fact that he can in a number of positions. 

“He’s got a great understanding of the game and a great knowledge. I think that’s, in hindsight, probably a bit of a downfall that he can adapt to certain positions. 

“There’s been other players in the past that prefer a position like James Milner but can with their understanding of the game, play in other positions. It kind of hinders their progression.”

£70m to replace Sanchez

11:00: Arsene Wenger believes it will cost Arsenal £70million to replace Alexis Sanchez.

Sanchez will stay at Arsenal until at least January after his proposed move to Manchester City collapsed on deadline day.

Arsenal had agreed a £55m deal with City but they were unable to sign a replacement for the Chilean and pulled the plug on the deal.

And Wenger admits the decision to keep Sanchez and lose him for free next year will cost the Gunners a high price.

He told beIN SPORTS: “Take a Sanchez into the final year of the contract, you sacrifice £60m to £70m income and at the end of the season you will have to buy someone for that amount of money.

“It has a huge price. At some stage, you have to make a decision, to sacrifice or not to.”

Draxler never considered exit

10:15: Julian Draxler claims he never thought about leaving PSG last month.

Draxler’s future was in doubt after the signings of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe.

He was linked with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United, but the German insists he is looking forward to the competition for places and the project in Paris.

“I only played two games for a short time [on the pitch] in Paris, but I came back to training four weeks later than other players because of the Confederations Cup,” Draxler toldRTL. “That’s something which is forgotten about in the media sometimes.

“The 90 minutes [against Norway] have been very, very important for me. I also sent a sign to Paris that they can bank on me.

“I am greatly looking forward to playing with [Neymar and Mbappe] — but, if players are bought for €222m or €180m, they have an advantage on paper. But I am confident — that’s why I didn’t think about leaving Paris.”

Alexis Sanchez takes aim

09:00: Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez has hit out at critics after Chile's 1-0 defeat to Bolivia in South America's World Cup qualifiers.

The 28-year-old, who’s been linked with a move away from Arsenal, posted an emotional message on his official Instagram account.

He described himself as “tired” after receiving what he feels has been months of unfair criticism from the media.

He wrote: “And there comes the time when you get tired. You get tired when you are criticised with or without reason, you get tired when people want to see you defeated.

“You get tired to tell yourself 'I will get up again' after crying about a defeat, and you get tired telling the world and the people that are with you that everything is okay. 

“And the worst thing is, no one ever realises how that makes you feel... I have Chile's number 7 and it is a huge responsibility, that's why it is a shame that journalists and bad people criticise without knowing.”

Arsenal to go back in for Sterling?

08:30: Arsenal could resurrect their interest in Manchester City star Raheem Sterling.

City were interested in a player-plus-cash deal, as they wanted to land Alexis Sanchez.

On deadline day, the Gunners accepted a £60m bid for Sanchez before they pulled the plug, as they knew they wouldn’t have enough time to find a replacement for Sanchez.

But according to the Daily Telegraph, Arsenal could be encouraged to make a move for Sterling if City chase Sanchez again.

The report adds Chelsea could also enter the race for his services.

Sanchez to City for just £20m

08:00: Alexis Sanchez could join Manchester City for just £20million in January, according to reports. 

The Arsenal contract rebel was close to joining City on deadline day after the Gunners accepted a bid totalling £60m for him to leave the Emirates. 

However, his move was blocked after Arsenal failed to land top target Thomas Lemar from Monaco.

City remain confident about signing Sanchez, but The Sun say they are unlikely to bid anymore than £20m for his services due to having only six months left on his contract by the time the window reopens in January.