Arsenal are set to lose two big players in Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain... but how have other stars fared after quitting the club?

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Despite Arsene Wenger maintaining throughout the summer that Alexis Sanchez will stay at the club, it appears as though Arsenal's position on their biggest star is softening.

Should he seal a move to Manchester City before Thursday's deadline, he will become the latest in a long line of stars to successfully agitate their way out of the Emirates.

With Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also set to leave, Sportsmail runs through the list of significant players Arsenal failed to hold on to and looks at how successful their moves were.

Alexis Sanchez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could both leave Arsenal before the deadling

Patrick Vieira - Juventus (2005, £13.7m)

The French midfielder was a linchpin in the dominant Arsenal side of 2004 and was the first significant departure following the Invincibles campaign.

With Arsene Wenger keen to bring Cesc Fabregas through to the first team, Vieira's move to Juventus was more of a mutual decision than those that followed, but fans have longed for a fitting replacement ever since.

He spent just one season in Turin, leaving after Juve were relegated due to their involvement in the Italian football scandal to join Inter Milan, where he won four successive Serie A titles.

Vieira's career finished with a stint at Manchester City, where he won one FA Cup. 

Patrick Vieira was the first significant departure from Arsenal following the Invincibles season

Ashley Cole - Chelsea (2006, £5m + William Gallas)

In what still remains one of the most controversial transfers in Premier League history, Cole agitated his way to Arsenal's London rivals after a prolonged pursuit by Jose Mourinho.

He forever severed his ties with Arsenal but now stands as one of Chelsea's best ever defenders after making 338 appearances across an eight-year spell.

Cole, who also has 107 England caps to his name, won a Premier League title, four FA Cups, a League Cup, a Champions League title and the Europa League before leaving for Roma. 

He is now seeing out the remaining years of a stellar career with MLS side LA Galaxy. 

Ashley Cole finally moved to Chelsea after a long pursuit by manager Jose Mourinho

Thierry Henry - Barcelona (2007, £16m)

At his peak, Henry was widely considered the best striker in world football, winning four consecutive Golden Boots and propelling Arsenal to Premier League titles in 2002 and 2004.

But a move from Highbury to the Emirates also signaled a drop in form for the French striker. His move to Barcelona came after a disappointing first season at the new ground and the low transfer fee signifies how far he had fallen from his peak.

Under Pep Guardiola, however, Henry rejuvenated his career, scoring 49 goals and helping the club to two La Liga titles in three years. In 2009, he finally fulfilled his dream of lifting the Champions League trophy, something he came so close to doing with Arsenal in 2006.

Thierry Henry brought an end to a hugely successful spell at Arsenal to join Barcelona in 2007

Emmanuel Adebayor - Manchester City (2009, £25m)

In Adebayor, Arsenal appeared to have found a replacement for Henry. The Togolese striker scored 30 goals in the 2007-08 season, but soon had his head turned by interest elsewhere.

It took him a year to finally seal a move to Manchester City, but he has never come close to repeating the feats he achieved with the Gunners. Spells with Real Madrid, Tottenham and Crystal Palace followed before a move to İstanbul Basaksehir.

His only piece of silverware remains the Copa del Rey he won with Real Madrid. 

Emmanuel Adebayor failed to repeat his Arsenal goal-scoring heroics at Manchester City

Samir Nasri - Manchester City (2011, £24m)

Following a spectacular season that included 15 goals from midfield, Arsenal found themselves in a familiar position with Nasri, allowing him to enter the final year of his contract.

He was one of the Premier League's biggest stars at the time and big-spending Manchester City sensed blood. They turned Nasri's head with the promise of huge wages and a stronger squad.

That promise was delivered in the form of two Premier League titles, but Nasri never became the world-class performer that many expected. 

His time at Manchester City came to an end with a shove from Pep Guardiola and a loan season with Sevilla was followed by a permanent move to Antalyaspor this summer. 

Samir Nasri won two Premier League titles with Manchester City but fell short of his potential

Cesc Fabregas - Barcelona (2011, £35m)

An inspiration on the field and their second youngest captain after Tony Adams, Fabregas was expected to lead Arsenal into a new era of glory.

But a chance to return to boyhood club Barcelona was too difficult to turn down and he quietly agitated his way out of the Emirates in a transfer window that still brings a chill to Arsenal fans.

He won La Liga and a Copa del Rey title but soon saw his dream turn sour. Arsenal had the option to bring him back three years after selling him, but Wenger turned down the opportunity to pave the way for Chelsea's move.

Although maintaining his love for Arsenal, the Spaniard has won two Premier League titles in his three seasons with the Blues, two more than he managed with the Gunners. 

Cesc Fabregas fulfilled a dream by playing for Barcelona, but his return last just three seasons

Robin van Persie - Manchester United (2012, £24m)

Still a sore subject around the red half of north London, Van Persie was allowed to leave for Arsenal's biggest Premier League rivals after publicly declaring his intention to leave.

The Dutchman went on to claim the Golden Boot for the Red Devils in what would turn out to be Sir Alex Ferguson's final season. His 24 goals made the difference and, despite struggling in the subsequent two seasons at Old Trafford, is remembered fondly by United fans.

His move to Fenerbahce in 2016 probably wasn't the ideal end to his career, but the Premier League medal he so desperately wanted made his move from Arsenal a success.

Robin van Persie inspired Manchester United to a 13th Premier League title with 24 goals