Arsenal Wenger convinced Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez 'love Arsenal and want to stay'

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James Benge18 November 2017

Arsene Wenger is convinced Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil want to stay at Arsenal, even though there appears to be little progress in extensions for the duo.

Ozil, Sanchez and record signing Alexandre Lacazette were on fine form as they put Tottenham to the sword in a 2-0 north London derby win at the Emirates, the Chilean scoring the second five minutes after Shkodran Mustafi had headed Arsenal into a first-half lead.

It could be the last time the trio take the field in a home north London derby, with Ozil and Sanchez both out of contract at the end of the season and showing little sign of extending despite offers worth £250,000-a-week and £300,000-a-week respectively being on the table.

Wenger conceded earlier this week that he may have to sell one or both of the pair if no progress is made in December, but he offered a surprisingly optimistic assessment of their long-term future at Arsenal.

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He told Standard Sport: "I’m long enough in the job that I know that [one game] is not enough [to make them sign]. The quality of the contract has to be good and enough for them.

"I am convinced they love the club, they love the team. The rest will be decided. When? I don’t really know. I alone cannot master that.

"Is it just the quality of the contract? No. It’s part of it. The whole thing has to be right.

"They have to be happy. They want to stay but as well other top clubs out there offer good contracts as well."

On the evidence of Saturday’s performance both will doubtless receive further suitors as they carved apart the Premier League’s most formidable defence of recent years.

Where Sanchez’s powerful strike from close range secured victory Ozil was equally crucial, providing a fine delivery for Mustafi to head home and ensure Arsenal’s dominance was not wasted.

It was no surprise to Wenger that the duo raised their game on the biggest stage, securing a win that moved Arsenal within a point of their north London rivals.

"If you have to give me one credit I never questioned their commitment," Wenger added. "I know them well. I know that when these guys go on the football pitch they want to win the football game.

"They can have bad games but the problem is when the player goes to the end of their contract and has a bad game everybody says ‘of course, because he’s going’.

"Their interest is to play anyway."