Money can’t buy you love, Arsene Wenger tells Arsenal duo Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has urged Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to consider more than financial rewards when deciding whether to commit their long-term futures to the Gunners.
Both Sanchez and Ozil have a little more than 18 months remaining on their current deals and are believed to want financial parity with the highest paid players in the Premier League.
A weekly salary upwards of £200,000 would need Arsenal to shatter their existing wage structure, and Wenger is keen to stress that fiscal recompense should not be the principal factor taken into account.
“I would like to say the luxury of the modern game should be it’s not only about the money, because the players make good money at his level wherever they play,” said Wenger.
“Maybe I am a bit naïve, but I believe it’s more about getting to meet the players’ needs. That’s about the way the club has values, the way the club has ambition, the way the club respects the players.
“For me, that is more important nowadays and an important ingredient for every player to consider. The money is good everywhere for everybody.”
The north London club face Basel in Switzerland on Tuesday where they will launch an outside bid to usurp Paris Saint-Germain at the summit of Champions League Group A.
Arsenal are level on points with PSG so would need the French champions to drop points at home to Bulgarian minnows Ludogorets Razgrad to have any chance of squeezing into top spot.
Despite the unlikely prospect of overtaking PSG, Wenger has opted against leaving his headline acts in London and is unwilling to compromise on the strength of resources at his disposal.
“I’ve kept the group together, we have a squad that is united,” added Wenger. “When a guy is in good success and confidence, it’s more dangerous to stop him than keep him going.
“You never know what might be happening in Paris. We can assess that scoreline at half time as see where we go.”
Securing top spot has historically resulted in a more palatable last 16 draw, although, as it stands, the likes of Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are potential opponents for group winners.
Wenger said: “Is there a difference between first and second? If you look at the teams, not really.”