Arsenal legend Martin Keown believes the Gunners won’t be able to stop Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil leaving the club.

Alexis and Ozil are down to the last year of their Arsenal contracts but neither have committed their futures to the club.

Keown told BBC Radio 5 Live via the Express that the pair could be off soon, saying: “I think both players are heading for the exit door and they’ll do it when Wenger decides not when they decide.”

The ex-Arsenal defender also spoke about about Alexis’ reported £300k-per-week contract demands, adding: “There’s talk of £15m a season in wages, that’s £60m.

“I think Arsene Wenger thinks, ‘I’ve got him now, I’ve got him almost on the cheap, he’s done really well for me, let’s keep him for one more year – that’s 50 per cent of my time I’m going to be the manager of Arsenal”

Özil has stated that his plan is to remain with the club and discuss signing a new contract. Manchester City have been linked with a bid for Alexis all summer and aren’t likely to give up until the transfer window is closed.

There are more rumours of potential moves circulating, with reports that Paris Saint-Germain are interested in Alexis and Barcelona in Özil, with the latter scouring the top European clubs for a way to spend their Neymar money.

Keown thinks that if a bid does come in worth £50m or more, Arsenal would take it. He said the Gunners would still prefer to make a profit, before cynically suggesting Wenger is only thinking about the short-term needs of the club as his contract only covers the next two years.

Pundits and supporters will be divided on what to do with Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, but Arsene Wenger has already made it clear that he intends to keep both players at the club until their respective contracts run out.