I take your point but doesn't our track record also say we won't win the league whether he stays or goes? So what's the point in not collecting the £50m now? Look, as I've said, if he stays and we win the title, then he goes on a Bosman, I'll consider it money well spent. But anything less than a fourteenth league win and I'll look on it as money thrown away. Money that could have been used to strengthen the team. You doubt it would be, and I can understand why. But if it wasn't, that's another factor about Wenger's management that I would feel deserves to be looked at very closely.

I'm not even sure a second, third or fourth place finish to get back into the Champions League would justify the decision. I do firmly believe Arsenal can qualify for the Champions League again with or without Sanchez, especially as I'm hoping Tottenham might struggle to maintain their standards of last season from playing at Wembley. What I'm much less sure about is winning the title if Sanchez sees out the last year of his contract. Perhaps I'm alone in seeing it this way, but for me the only outcome that would justify the risk is winning the title. In my view, anything less would make it a poor decision.

I would keep it to the first three as I think Gerrard is a level below. The other three were superb players. Among the very best in Europe at the time. There is nobody close in the PL today.

I won't rule out an ''Arsenal tinted" view. The link mentions Lampard again, who I think was a great player but also overrated in terms of how high he is held in actual talent.

I didn't see much of Keane pre-Vieira if at all but for me Vieira ruled, lord and master over all when he was in the mood. Gerrard had a bit of that but not to the same level, more attacking than Vieira. Scholes...hmm...I can't..just can't...haha..but I do concede he was a great player.

We can all agree he is, its just how great is the question. How much of his greatness was due to being in that coddled Man Utd team? Everyone on that list of yours did it for their country. It could be argued the national team exposed his shortcomings.

I think the fan reaction is a factor here. The anti-Wenger and anti-Kroenke sentiment hasn't gone away. If we sell Alexis to City, fans will be up in arms again. The best option for me would be to sell him and get in a top class player with the proceeds. If the Aguero swap is a possibility, that would be great.

I read Alexis as the type of person who will give his all. And I think this will only change if Wenger gets anal with him. I see Wenger as someone who will get anal with players who dare to speak of/to him (speak against obviously).

For me, a swap for Aguero is a good second option. Keeping Alexis is first.

Funnily enough, I'd probably say that as an all round player Gerrard was the best of the lot.

He had a bit of everything (technique, vision and a great range of passing, power, pace, desire and a bit of a nasty streak). He could do just about everything on a football pitch and could play in multiple positions. I think he should have gone to Madrid or Barca in his prime rather than stay at Liverpool.

I just hope Lacazette isn't the replacement for Alexis. If he is then we still need at least another 3 topclass players to even think about competing for the league.

Looking around at what's available to us (ruling out Mbappe) it's hard to see a like-for-like player who would provide the same number of goals and assists so we are almost needing to buy two players to replace one.

I certainly accept the reaction of fans is a factor shaping the decision, if the decision to keep him is made. But the club was happy enough to ignore fan opinion over Wenger's contract renewal so they're picking and choosing when to take account of fan reaction, which I'm not saying is wrong. I'm just suggesting they've possibly got it the wrong way round in ignoring and abiding with fan opinion. But I'm with you on this. The best option would be to sell him now and recruit a top level player with the £50m. If we end up kissing goodbye to the £50m and not winning the title next season, I think supporters may be less understanding of any explanation for the shortfall with 'we could not compete financially with the Manchester clubs or Chelsea'.

So, Arsenal is playing in Sydney on Thursday 13 July at ANZ Stadium and then against the Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday 15 July.

I've been offered tickets to see them for $ 49. I might get an even better offer though I'm not sure.

Anyway, I've already decided what I'm going to do. The decision I've made is quite clear in my mind but I can't tell anyone just yet.

Definitely with Bernard and Dec on this. If Alexis doesn't sign on, selling now and replacing with a top class player is the best option. I'd accept Aguero or someone on that level. How would we replace his goals? We've lost players that have scored 30 in recent years (Adebayor/RVP) and improved our scoring record in the following season. For example we scored 12 more as a team when Giroud came in. Also if we're talking straight stats and how we'll replace goals then surely we have to consider how Theo's goals will be made up if he leaves (and Giroud). For a player that doesn't play all the time, Theo has a hell of a return from the right wing.

Rooney back to Everton eh? He goes full circle. My guess he lasted as long as he has at Man Utd the last couple years when he was obviously past it, is because of legendary status and for him to get the goal scoring record.

His getting a rumored 250k a week is nuts though. I have to assume Man Utd is forgoing a fee and the fee is applied to his wages.

All bias aside, it has to be Patrick Vieira.

The key thing for next season is to watch how Lacazette operates and his impact. He clearly is a better finisher than most of our current natural strikers and the fact we will have more pace and movement further up the pitch will benefit us. If we sold sanchez and signed Mahrez or a wide player who contributed 15 goals plus assist and Lacazette scored 30 we'd be covered.

I'd also just let sanchez run his contract down but not Özil. Lacazette, Mesut and sanchez in the final third is pretty serious firepower on paper and we could make a title charge if wenger can keep the defence tight (don't laugh)

Everton must be off their rocker if they are going to pay fatboy his 250k a week. that chubby little *%^@ looks well past his best

I forgot about this possible option. It would be the best option probably. My fear is that Aguero sees us as a step down and his heart is not in it. Plus his injury record.

I think he'd see the quality players around him, London as a world class city and first class facilities at The Arsenal and end up liking it...I hope.

Aguero, Lacazette, Özil, possibly the Monaco winger or Mahrez....ooh wee!

So far we seem to be spending money well. My fear is Wenger and 50 million. Will it be spent? And secondly, will it be spent wisely if it is? He seems to like his reputation for making money for the club in net transfer spending.

Everton have already spent close to £100m this summer. The TV money is really kicking in.

I'd probably go Gerrard, Scholes, Keane, Vieira mainly because Gerrard and Scholes had goals in the repertoire. Keane would be ahead of Vieira purely because of his incredible will to win and ability to drive his team on whatever the circumstances. Basically he was a nasty *%^@** who lead from the front and inspired/bullied his teamates into performing whilst intimidating his opponents.

Not much to choose between any of them to be honest.

Vieira all day long. End of discussion. Thanks.

PS. Scholes was the best English player of his generation by miles.

PV4 in his peak was the best midfield player in the Premiership era. The way he bossed the middle of the mark, sometimes single handedly was unique and that included games against Utd when he absolutely schooled Keane. Vieira number one, Keane (who did have more longevity) second.

Vieira.

Not sure about that Sab, how many times did he school Keane, infact how many times did we get the better of United full stop?.

I can't recall too many.

Was it the game when there was the famous fracas in the tunnel and we ended up losing 4-2 at home?

Gerrard edged it for me. Scholes was the best technically and could control a game with his passing and incredible game intelligence but Gerrard was the better all round player......better athlete, quicker, stronger, taller, more dynamic, more versatile. He won games for the scousers virtually on his own whereas Scholesy, as good as he was, had far better players around him.

It doesn't detract from Scholes that he had better players around him. His passing, vision and ability to dictate the game were considerably stronger than Gerrard's. Gerrard was capable of doing the spectacular. He was very much a Holllywood player. Scholes was a real team player and tactically was miles ahead of Gerrard.

I don't think Vieira got the better of Keane too often and the reverse is also true. The two of them were sensational. Put either of them in one of the top 6 teams today and you wouldn't need 3 at the back or 3 central midfielders.

"Alexandre Lacazette

Arsenal have signed 26-year old French forward Alexandre Lacazette from Lyon for a £46m initial fee.
He becomes signing number 2 this season, taking Arsenal's net spend to -£46m so far.
Add-ons of £6m have also been reported in this deal."

Hi Soc, I remember a period of about 3/4 years starting from Wenger's first double when Vieira owned Keane. This was Vieira at his absolute peak. Keane was also sensational and stayed at his best level for longer but I never witnessed Keane dominate Vieira to the level that Vieira dominated Keane. You could argue that Keane's longevity and honours make him number one. But at Vieira's absolute best, he was the best.

Bloody hell, not going to help Lacazette's piles.

Any list of greatest Premiership midfielders without Frank Lampard in it is toilet paper.

Samuel Galindo departs

Arsenal have released 25-year old Bolivian midfielder Samuel Galindo from the club.
He becomes player number 2 to leave the club this season.

Lacazette and Kolasanic both in by the first day of pre season training. Taking the bestLB in germany and the top scorer in France for a combined £46m, and considering we can't offer Champions League, is a decent start to the summer in anyone's book.

We really do need to get rid of the deadwood and free up space in the squad for more reinforcements.

We have to replace Cazorla in the squad. I know Xhaka and Ramsey started to form an ok partnership right at the end of the season but I recall far too many games where we lacked any kind of control and fluency in the middle of the park. Maybe wenger thinks Wilshere can do it, or maybe he'll give Ox a run there - but in reality neither are capable or taking us to the heights we want in that position.

Saw someone on Twitter suggest that if Juventus want Szczesny then ask for Pjanic in return - he's certainly a classy central midfield play maker.

In an ideal world we get Lemar, a Cazorla replacement and some competition at RB (maybe Chambers can cover) and we keep Sanchez, Özil, Ox and Giroud and there would be no excuses for not going very far in every competition.

I'd also balance the squad and the books by getting rid of Jenks, Debuchy, Gibbs, Ospina/Szcz and sadly Perez. You should be able to get £40m for that lot no problem. If we get a high quality Cazorla replacement then I'd try to shift Wilshere to West Ham for £25-30m - they're exactly the sort of club who'd pay that

Hi Rich. Kolasanic got in the Bundesliga team of the season as voted for by the other players. Cahill got in the Premier League equivalent last season (the PFA team). Would you really say Cahill is one of the two best central defenders in the Premier League (Luiz got the other place with Cahill)? I hope Kolasanic will be an excellent signing. But for me, Alaba is the best left back in Germany. If Bayern genuinely thought Kolasanic was better than him, I'd have expected them to go for him.

"Rangers are in the brown stuff?" Discuss.

Terrible result last night but it was always going to take a few years to get back to challenging Celtic, and that's the longer-term aim rather than their Progres (get it ) in a European competition they were never going to win this season. Pedro has made a few signings so let's see how they turn out first, before being too doom and gloom.

No way we should sell Giroud unless a stupid offer comes in.

The only way to view any offer is could we replace him for the same
Money. £20m is the fee being banded around, for £20m can we get a striker that gives us what Giroud does? I doubt it

Why on earth are we being linked with Cuadrado from Juve? He's basically another Gervinho.......a skilful but headless chicken.

Delighted with the signing of lacazette
Type of striker we have needed in years.
Didnt viera used to have a party trick when in a tight space and the close attention of a player he would juggle the ball then dink it over the player run past him and collect it. Wondrous.

Lampard is the greatest goalscoring midfielder in PL history but he's not quite on the same level as Gerrard, Scholes, Keane or Vieira.