Martin Keown believes that Arsene Wenger will stick to his guns and won’t allow Alexis Sanchez to sign for Manchester City this summer.

Alexis‘s rumoured move to City is all the press appear to be talking about but Keown reckons Wenger won’t bow to pressure and will keep the Chilean in north London.

The former centre-back believes that because Wenger only has two more years on his contract with Arsenal, he’ll be extremely reluctant to let any of his big players go, especially to a rival.

“Sanchez will be the one now which everyone talks about – and let’s see how Arsene Wenger handles that. He (Wenger) has his contract (extension), and I don’t think Wenger will be in any rush, he will want to keep the player,” Keown told Press Association Sport.

“I think he (Sanchez) is going to play, wherever he is, I don’t think he is the sort of lad who will down tools.

“Wenger has two years to go now on his contract at Arsenal, and he will want that time spent with the best possible players – Sanchez is one of Europe’s best players.

“Arsene Wenger is a little bit different to a lot of the managers I played under, and he does have a special bond with his players. (Robin) van Persie had a heart-to-heart (talk) with Wenger, and he let him go.

“I feel this time around, he will not be letting him (Sanchez) or any of his other players go that he does not want to let go, and that is all time-linked to how long he has got left with Arsenal.”

Wenger has always said that he would rather keep Alexis for the final year of his Arsenal contract and allow him to leave on a free next season, than strengthen a rival.

However, if a club from a different league, such as Bayern Munich or Paris Saint-Germain return for the 28-year-old, perhaps he could be swayed.