Arsene Wenger has reiterated that neither Mesut Ozil nor Alexis Sanchez will be going anywhere this summer but he did include a caveat.

• Arsenal boss prefers to lose them on a free than sell this summer
• Wenger is still hopeful he can get the pair to renew
• Both are reportedly asking for crazy wages amid talk they ‘want to win things’

Arsene Wenger told BeIN Sports that Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez will be going nowhere this summer, a line he has used all season. However, this time he added that he would let them leave if he could find replacements of the ‘same calibre’ and the players really pushed for an exit.

As speculation continues around the pair and their futures, according to the press Alexis has one foot already out the Arsenal door. Mesut Ozil is somewhat different with the press playing a guessing game over his future for the want of any actual real information.

Well, now Wenger has delivered some actual information, not that it will matter.

“This summer, first of all, they will stay at the club and hopefully we can extend their contracts,” Wenger said

“You cannot weaken the club and weaken the team. You want to strengthen the team. Unless you find a player of the same calibre. If they want absolutely to leave. 

“I believe at the moment we are not on that front. We are just focused on keeping the team together and see how to strengthen the team. 

“When you sign a contract somewhere, you commit to give your best until the end of the last day of your contract. I would say why should they not give their best?”

Given the tensions surrounding Arsenal at the minute after Wenger’s contract renewal, it would be a very brave or foolish move to posture so strongly only to eventually give in to the player’s demands for a move.

Whatever game Wenger is playing, I hope he knows what he’s doing.

He can afford few missteps over the next two years.