Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil should be doing more if they want to earn big-money deals to remain at the Emirates.
The Gunners duo have 18 months left to run on their contract and it appears negotiations over new deals are at a halt, with both reportedly demanding upwards of £300,000-a-week if they are commit their futures to Arsenal.
Ozil drew interest from Manchester United last month and has reportedly spoken openly about a return to Real Madrid, while Sanchez’s agent are using a huge offer of £500,000-a-week from China to get the best deal he can for his client.
But while both players remain influential and important players in Arsene Wenger’s side, Sky Sports pundit Henry believes the pair must deliver more to deserve such high wages:
‘Those two players are vital for the future of the club, they have to secure that deal.
‘But to what extent? I don’t know if Arsene [Wenger] is going to pay those numbers. But if they don’t sign, who are you going to bring after that? What’s the future?
‘At the moment they are holding the club hostage. They are amazing but if they are on that amount of money, I want a hat-trick every week – and also when there’s no game!
‘You need to be in a situation where you’ve won something already for the club to ask for that amount of money.’
Arsenal could easily afford to give both players what they want, but the amount they are supposedly asking for is very questionable.
If the Gunners were to give them what they want, then others will ask why aren’t they on those types of numbers.
No footballer is worthy of such wages, and therefore I cannot see Arsenal offering the duo the wages in question. And if that means they are to be sold next summer or leave on a free at the end of next season then so be it. No player is bigger than the club.
