Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have 18 months left on their current contracts, and Arsenal is in the final stages of contract negotiations with both players.

Their futures have been the subject of much conjecture, with some newspaper stories speculating that Arsenal might only be able to hold onto one of their two valuable assets.


Who then matters more to Arsenal? We review each player’s case and obtain Charlie Nicholas’s opinion. Additionally, you can comment at the bottom of the page.
Is Sanchez the major player?

Since joining Arsenal for £35 million from Barcelona in 2014, Sanchez has been essential, but his role has increased this season. After spending two years on the wings, the Chilean’s redeployment as a central striker has been a big success, and he is now immovable in the middle.

With his 12th goal of the year against Everton, Sanchez tied Chelsea’s Diego Costa for the top spot in the Premier League scoring charts. Since moving to the Emirates Stadium, he has made 116 appearances across all competitions, scoring 56 goals. He is on pace to record his highest career total for a single campaign.

Sanchez is a threat to score as well, though. Due to his extensive skill set, he is essential to almost every offensive move Arsenal makes. He has even emerged as their best provider this season, generating more opportunities (42) and assists (five) than any of his teammates.


Arsenal’s forward line now moves with more speed and fluidity thanks to his deft movement and link-up play. He moves to the sides and drops deep, making room for players like Theo Walcott and Ozil to move freely into goal-scoring situations. He even possesses the physical strength to hold the ball up and win headers when needed.