Wenger: Arsenal will do the “maximum” to keep Özil and Alexis

Arsène Wenger has tried to calm fans’ fears of losing Mesut Özil and Alexis Sánchez over contract disputes, as both players’ current contracts run out at the end of next season.

“Eighteen months is quite long in football. These players have 18 months, they will be staying 18 months and, hopefully, much longer,” Wenger told BBC Sport. “I don't believe that it is a problem.”

However, when asked if the club would be willing to break its current wage structure to re-sign the two stars, which some reports suggest it would need to do, he only said, “Like always we will do the maximum of what we can for every single player.”

Which doesn’t really clear that question up, but as Wenger says, “You have to accept that negotiations are private and secret and we don't have to explain what we do with negotiations.”

Well, seeing as Özil and Alexis are Arsenal’s two best players, hopefully the maximum is enough to get both to re-sign.