Arsenal has warned Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez that they will not be sold even if they don't agree upon contract extensions before their current deals expire in 18 months.

Reports this week suggested both players want to be handed pay rises to take them onto parity with the best-paid players in the Premier League. 

“I’m not the only one who can decide that. A contract is negotiations in this case between two parties," said Arsene Wenger.

“On my side, the best position is to achieve it earlier. These players will stay here for at least 18 months. I cannot repeat always the same things.

“I think at some stage you have to accept that negotiations are private and secret, and we do not always have to come out every day to explain what we do in football negotiations. We are professional people, we work until the last day of our contracts with full commitment.

“These players have 18 months on their contracts and, no matter what happens, they will stay for 18 months. Hopefully they’ll stay for longer than that."

Wenger is hopeful of Arsenal's chances of extending both Ozil and Sanchez.