Why were Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil missing from an Arsenal kit launch?

Puma launched Arsenal’s new home kit for the 2017-18 season but there were two major faces missing from the promotional photo.

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Gunners contract rebels Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were nowhere to be seen, and some fans were sent into a spin thinking it was the sign the duo were on their way out of the club.

Puma’s release clearly shows Arsenal’s new kit being modelled by Olivier Giroud, Hector Bellerin and Nacho Monreal, with Sanchez and Ozil conspicuous by their absence.

But don’t be worried (yet, at least) Gooners – the club’s official launch has both stars and goalkeeper Petr Cech photoshopped in.

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So why the difference between the two launches? Is it because Puma know something about the future of the duo that Arsenal don’t?

Well, the answer is much more mundane. As a Twitter user pointed out, Puma can only use Puma-contracted players and as Sanchez is sponsored by Nike and Ozil sponsored by Adidas, Puma don’t have the commercial rights to use the duo in their promotional activity.

So there you go Gunners fans. You can rest easy knowing Arsenal have no plans to sell their star duo, whether they sign new contracts beyond next season is still undecided though…