Arsenal’s players want Alexis Sanchez’s proposed move to Manchester United concluded before Saturday’s home game against Crystal Palace.

The 29-year-old was left out of last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth with Arsene Wenger claiming the situation would be resolved within 48 hours. Manchester City subsequently dropped out of the race, leaving United in pole position, but negotiations have slowed as an agreement over a swap deal which would see Henrikh Mkhitaryan move to Emirates Stadium has yet to be reached.

Standard Sport understands that many players have grown weary of the Sanchez saga dragging on and want a resolution this week.

It is believed Sanchez has become an increasingly divisive figure as he continues to agitate for a transfer. Wenger’s decision to drop Sanchez against Bournemouth was partly based on tensions within the camp and the Gunners boss could face another tough call should Sanchez remain an Arsenal player this weekend.

Talks are continuing over Sanchez’s switch to Old Trafford but the current deal now hinges on Mkhitaryan agreeing to move the other way. The Armenian is keen on joining Arsenal but is seeking an increase on his £140,000 weekly wage at United.

The Gunners are, to an extent, hamstrung by the £300,000-a-week offer they made to Sanchez, with Mkhitaryan’s agent Mino Raiola using that figure as evidence of how far they can go.

A straight cash deal is an alternative with United prepared to pay £35m but Wenger would prefer to include Mkhitaryan with the pursuit of other targets - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Borussia Dortmund and Bordeaux’s Malcom - on the backburner until the final terms of Sanchez’s departure are clear.

Arsenal are highly unlikely to sign all three. United remain confident of landing Sanchez and the Gunners’ hopes of securing a player in exchange increased today when quotes from Mkhitaryan dating back to 2009 resurfaced. “My favourite team is Arsenal,” he told Uefa’s official website aged 20 when playing in Armenia.

In Pictures | Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal 27 show all In Pictures | Alexis Sanchez at Arsenal 1/27 22 January 2018 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's second goal vs Burnley Arsenal FC via Getty Images 2/27 13 January 2018 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with Alexis Sanchez during a training session at London Colney Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/27 10 January 2018 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez passes the ball under pressure from N'Golo Kante of Chelsea during their Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match at Stamford Bridge Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/27 03 January 2018 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez waves to the crowd at the Emirates Stadium before ther Premier League match vs Chelsea Getty Images 5/27 10 January 2018 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez warms up before the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match vs Chelsea Catherine Ivill/Getty Images 6/27 26 December 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring the opening goal with a deflected free kick vs West Brom at Th eHawthorns AFP/Getty Images 7/27 26 December 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez controls the ball at Anfield vs Liverpool Getty Images 8/27 02 December 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez breaks past Man United's POaul Pogba at Emirates Stadium Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images 9/27 26 November 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley PA 10/27 4 March 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez reacts at Anfield v Liverpool Getty Images 11/27 11 February 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's second goal vs Hull Getty Images 12/27 03 December 2016 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring the opening goal vs Everton at Goodison Park Getty Images 13/27 03 December 2016 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring his team's second goal vs West Ham at London Stadium Getty Images 14/27 13 September 2016 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his sides first goal with team mates during the UEFA Champions League Group A match vs Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes Getty Images 15/27 4 March 2016 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's second goal v Tottenham Hotspur Getty Images 16/27 21 November 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez reacts after missing a chance vs West Brom Getty Images 17/27 4 October 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez scoring his team's third goal vs Man United at the Emirates Stadium Getty Images 18/27 26 September 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's fourth and his hat trick goal Getty Images 19/27 26 September 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's second goal vs Leicester City Arsenal FC via Getty Images 20/27 26 September 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's fourth and his hat trick goal Getty Images 21/27 30 May 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez lifts the trophy in celebration after the FA Cup Final vs Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium Getty Images 22/27 18 April 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring the the opening goal during the FA Cup Semi Final between Arsenal and Reading at Wembley Stadium Getty Images 23/27 11 January 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez scores his team's third goal vs Stoke at the Emirates Stadium Getty Images 24/27 26 September 2014 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match vs Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium Getty Images 25/27 26 September 2014 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match vs Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium Getty Images 26/27 01 August 2014 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez during a training session at London Colney Arsenal FC via Getty Images 27/27 10 July 2014 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez Arsenal FC via Getty Images 1/27 22 January 2018 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's second goal vs Burnley Arsenal FC via Getty Images 2/27 13 January 2018 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger with Alexis Sanchez during a training session at London Colney Arsenal FC via Getty Images 3/27 10 January 2018 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez passes the ball under pressure from N'Golo Kante of Chelsea during their Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match at Stamford Bridge Arsenal FC via Getty Images 4/27 03 January 2018 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez waves to the crowd at the Emirates Stadium before ther Premier League match vs Chelsea Getty Images 5/27 10 January 2018 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez warms up before the Carabao Cup Semi-Final First Leg match vs Chelsea Catherine Ivill/Getty Images 6/27 26 December 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring the opening goal with a deflected free kick vs West Brom at Th eHawthorns AFP/Getty Images 7/27 26 December 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez controls the ball at Anfield vs Liverpool Getty Images 8/27 02 December 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez breaks past Man United's POaul Pogba at Emirates Stadium Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images 9/27 26 November 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his side's first goal of the game during the Premier League match at Turf Moor, Burnley PA 10/27 4 March 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez reacts at Anfield v Liverpool Getty Images 11/27 11 February 2017 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's second goal vs Hull Getty Images 12/27 03 December 2016 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring the opening goal vs Everton at Goodison Park Getty Images 13/27 03 December 2016 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring his team's second goal vs West Ham at London Stadium Getty Images 14/27 13 September 2016 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his sides first goal with team mates during the UEFA Champions League Group A match vs Paris Saint-Germain at Parc des Princes Getty Images 15/27 4 March 2016 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's second goal v Tottenham Hotspur Getty Images 16/27 21 November 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez reacts after missing a chance vs West Brom Getty Images 17/27 4 October 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez scoring his team's third goal vs Man United at the Emirates Stadium Getty Images 18/27 26 September 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's fourth and his hat trick goal Getty Images 19/27 26 September 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's second goal vs Leicester City Arsenal FC via Getty Images 20/27 26 September 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring his team's fourth and his hat trick goal Getty Images 21/27 30 May 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez lifts the trophy in celebration after the FA Cup Final vs Aston Villa at Wembley Stadium Getty Images 22/27 18 April 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring the the opening goal during the FA Cup Semi Final between Arsenal and Reading at Wembley Stadium Getty Images 23/27 11 January 2015 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez scores his team's third goal vs Stoke at the Emirates Stadium Getty Images 24/27 26 September 2014 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match vs Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium Getty Images 25/27 26 September 2014 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League Group D match vs Borussia Dortmund at the Emirates Stadium Getty Images 26/27 01 August 2014 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez during a training session at London Colney Arsenal FC via Getty Images 27/27 10 July 2014 Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez Arsenal FC via Getty Images

“I like their attacking play. Moreover, Arsene Wenger puts faith in young players while demanding results. I like that and want to play there.”

Sven Mislintat’s (above) involvement is also in Arsenal’s favour. The Gunners’ new head of recruitment brought Mkhitaryan to former club Dortmund in 2013 and knows Raiola well. Mislintat could also prove a key figure if Arsenal follow through on their interest in Aubameyang. Reports in Germany suggest Aubameyang’s father is due in London to discuss a deal but Arsenal have so far indicated they are unwilling to meet the £55m valuation.

Olivier Giroud could be used as a makeweight - something Arsenal originally proposed before completing a cash deal with Lyon for Alexandre Lacazette last summer.

The Gunners have sought to lower their wage bill by offloading Francis Coquelin to Valencia in addition to Theo Walcott, who is on the brink of a £25m move to Everton. The 28-year-old passed his medical on Wednesday morning.