Bellerin and Mustafi wanted Arsenal exits in the summer

Bengaluru, September 5: Things are not going well for Arsenal and the manager Arsene Wenger of late. The Frenchman, however, did not admit the Gunners had a poor transfer window.

We all know that a host of Arsenal players were desperate to leave the Emirates and among those key players, only one left in the form of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who made a deadline day move to rivals Liverpool.

Arsenal have a situation in their hands with the contracts of several key players like Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and a few more.

Meanwhile, reports in England claims that two of Arsenal’s star defenders Hector Bellerin and Shkodran Mustafi demanded transfers this summer but Wenger managed to keep the duo.

According to reliable BBC Sports journalist David Ornstein who happens to be extremely reliable with regard to Arsenal, Bellerin and Mustafi joined Alexis Sanchez in demanding an exit from the Emirates this summer but Wenger’s determination to keep them was the ultimate winner.

Bellerin reportedly had his heart set for Barcelona while Mustafi was keen to join Serie A giants Inter Milan.

Responding to a Q&A on Twitter, he said: "Arsenal encountered problems with some of those they did not want to lose. For example, Hector Bellerin returned from the U21 Euros to tell Wenger he wanted to leave amid interest from Barcelona.

"[Alex] Oxlade-Chamberlain rejected a new deal and eventually told Wenger he wanted out.

"No contract talks took place place with [Mesut] Ozil and have not since March and [Alexis] Sanchez also made clear his desire to exit the Emirates.”

He added: “Shkodran Mustafi asked to leave, which suited Arsenal because it gave them the chance to replace a player they were disappointed with last season, except they failed to land a replacement.”

About Chamberlain’s move to Liverpool, Ornstein said, “Wenger was stunned and bitterly disappointed when Oxlade-Chamberlain rejected the club’s final contract offer (an enormous pay rise that would have earned him close to £180,000 per week if Arsenal made it back into the Champions League).

"And I'm told Wenger did not hold back when Oxlade-Chamberlain told him face-to-face that he wanted to move on," he added.

"Oxlade-Chamberlain's price was an initial £35million, while money also came in for Szczesny, Gabriel and Gibbs.

"On the face of it that left Arsenal in profit for the window, although it is unclear if or how much of Oxlade-Chamberlain's fee was owed to his former club Southampton via a sell-on clause."