Wenger: Sanchez wants to stay

Alexis Sanchez is clearly not happy at Arsenal at the moment and many believe that the Chilean international will be leaving the Emirates Stadium following the conclusion of the current campaign, especially as he has not yet signed an extension to his contract which expires in 2018.

Despite the mounting speculation, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that Sanchez actually wants to stay put at the Emirates Stadium and that the only thing stopping the deal from taking place is the player’s agent.

Wenger told the Daily Mail, “I believe that he basically wants to stay at the club, and it’s down to finding an agreement with his agent. The players have to first see whether they are happy at the club. Most of the time it’s down to finding an agreement and the finances are involved in it, yes.”

Arsenal want Jordan Pickford

Sunderland have endured a terrible campaign so far and look certain to be dropping down into the Championship. While there have understandably been very few positives to look back upon for Sunderland, the fine performances of goalkeeper Jordan Pickford would surely have pleased many.

With Pickford performing so well, a host of clubs have expressed their interest in signing the custodian and reports from the Sunderland Echo have claimed that Arsenal are also keen admirers, having sent scouts to monitor the England Under-21 international during Sunderland’s clash against Watford last weekend.

Speaking after the Watford defeat, Sunderland manager David Moyes said: "Jordan is a top young goalkeeper, and is now beginning to look like a top senior goalkeeper as well, albeit that he’s of a young age.

"He made one really good save in the first half, but more importantly, it felt as though he had a real command of his penalty box.

"If Jordan keeps up his form like he’s doing, then there’ll be few goalkeepers who can do what Jordan Pickford is doing at the moment."

Team news for Crystal Palace

Arsenal square off against Crystal Palace in an important Premier League encounter on Monday night but manager Arsene Wenger will be without the services of a number of his key players for the clash.

Speaking ahead of the game, Wenger has ruled out the likes of Petr Cech, David Ospina as well as Laurent Koscielny and the Gunners look set to head into the clash with an under strength backline.

Wenger said, “I don’t believe that Cech will be available for Monday night, nor Ospina. These are the two players who will still be out. I didn’t mention him because for me he’s out on Monday night. It should be short-term.”