Key Arsenal man believes duo will stay until next year

Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez will be Arsenal players until the end of the season, according to Gunners defender Nacho Monreal. 

The duo are out of contract at the end of the season and have been heavily linked with January moves away from the Emirates. 

Both Ozil and Alexis were vital in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Tottenham on Saturday, with the former providing the assists for Shkodran Mustafi’s opener and the latter scoring on the stroke of half time. 

However, Ozil has been linked with a switch to Barcelona in the New Year, while Alexis is a long standing target for Manchester City. 

Monreal, though, believes the two players will stay at the club and are both committed to the cause in north London. 

“The feeling is that they will continue,” Monreal is quoted as saying by the Daily Mirror. 

“At no time have we talked about the possibility of them leaving. Not at all. They are committed to the group and we will see what happens. 

“I can't say much about it. It does not depend on me. The situation is clear. They are two vital players for Arsenal. They are two players who end their contracts at the end of the season. 

“If the club want them to stay beyond December [the January transfer window] they will follow. 

“Yet, I do not know the club's intentions. It is other people who are the ones who have to make a decision.” 

Both Ozil and Alexis are set to be rested for Arsenal’s Europa League meeting with FC Cologne on Thursday night.