Wenger's contract is running down - just like Sanchez's and Ozil's (Photo: Arsenal FC/Getty/Action Images via Reuters)
The uncertainty surrounding Arsene Wenger's future at The Emirates is the reason Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil haven't signed new contracts at the club.
That's the view of former Gunners defender, Martin Keown, who believes Arsenal might struggle to keep hold of the pair if Wenger quits the club at the end of the season.
Wenger's contract at Arsenal will expire in the summer and he has vowed to wait and see what shape the team ends the season in before deciding whether to commit or not.
The contracts of Sanchez and Ozil are also running down, with the duo's deals set to run out in the summer of 2018.
They are both holding out for new deals worth more than £200,000 a week, but Keown believes Wenger's future will have a big say on whether Sanchez and Ozil renew their contracts at Arsenal.
"Wenger brought them both to the club so, he will have been a big part of the reason they decided to sign in the first place," Keown wrote in the Daily Mail. "Wenger has a global appeal that shouldn’t be overlooked, and if he decides to leave at the end of the season, Arsenal might have to convince Sanchez and Ozil to sign new deals with a new manager at the club, which could be a problem.
"Wenger has said he’d rather lose them both for nothing at the ends of their contracts than sell them now, but this is a huge gamble given that their combined transfer value would exceed £80million. There are some big decisions to be made over the next couple of years, and to me, it looks as though Arsenal’s star pair won’t commit their futures to the club."
Sanchez was visibly furious after Arsenal's 3-3 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday night as Arsenal failed to close the gap on Premier League leaders, Chelsea.
Wenger attempted to explain the Chilean's reaction as he spoke to the press ahead of this weekend's FA Cup trip to Preston.
"What is surprising? We want to win the games, if you don’t you’re not happy. That is normal," he said.
"Without passion, you do not come back when you are at 70 minutes and 3-0 down.
"It is exceptional and you need a special response. We are all frustrated. Of course he (Sanchez) is fine.”
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