Wenger: Arsenal bigger than Ozil and Sanchez

Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will offer Santi Cazorla a new contract but insists Arsenal's future doesn't depend on whether Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez decide to stay, saying the club "is bigger than that."

Cazorla had surgery this week on a foot injury and Wenger had refused to say last week whether the club would exercise their option to extend his contract by another year.

The 31-year-old Spaniard's current deal expires next summer, but Wenger said on Friday that "we will extend, certainly, with Santi Cazorla."

However, the Arsenal boss is still facing a fight to keep his star duo of Ozil and Sanchez, who have reportedly refused to sign contract extensions as they hold out for a massive pay rise, with only 18 months left on their current deals.

Losing them would be a massive blow to a club that have insisted that their selling days are over after a period when a slew of star players exited for more money elsewhere.

Asked about the importance of proving they can now keep hold of top talent, Wenger said: "Yes, but Arsenal is a big club. It is not one or two players who will make the difference to the club. The importance is that we are today in a financial position that is strong, that was not the case before.

"That means as well we are in a position where we can plan our future, and do what we want to do. And what is important is always to take care of the values of the club, and the identity of the club, and not to depend too much on one or two players. The history of Arsenal is bigger than that."

Wenger said earlier in the day that he would not entertain offers for either Ozil or Sanchez next summer even if they refuse to sign new deals, meaning they could be allowed to leave for free the following year.

No matter what happens, contract negotiations are likely to continue to be a talking point for Arsenal throughout the season. Not only is Wenger's own contract up next summer, several other players will also need new deals before the end of the season to avoid a situation where they become available for free the following year.

That includes Jack Wilshere and Olivier Giroud, whose futures are also uncertain. Wilshere went on loan to Bournemouth this season to resurrect his injury-ravaged career, while Giroud has lost his starting spot to Sanchez and could grow restless on the bench.

"We work as well on Giroud and on many players, there are six or seven cases at the moment but that is the usual case, it is every year like that," Wenger said. "Giroud, Wilshere. That explains to you why we have a lot of work to do, but you are only interested in two cases."

Injury Update: Arsenal to assess Alexis Sanchez; Santi Cazorla likely out against Man United

Alexis Sanchez against Uruguay on Tuesday, 15 Nov, 2016

Arsenal will assess forward Alexis Sanchez on his return from international duty with Chile, but look set to again have to do without playmaker Santi Cazorla for Saturday's trip to Manchester United.
Sanchez is flying back to London after scoring twice as Chile beat Uruguay 3-1 in their World Cup qualifier in Santiago to get their bid to secure one of the four automatic places in Russia back on track.
The forward, though, had missed the goalless draw against Colombia in Barranquilla after suffering a hamstring problem -- with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger warning it would be a "suicidal decision'' to play him and risk further injury.
Sanchez, who has scored eight goals for Arsenal this season, will be checked over by the Arsenal medical staff once he reports back into the club's London Colney training base as Wenger looks to fine tune preparations for Saturday's crucial lunchtime kickoff at Old Trafford.
While the Gunners will be hoping to have Sanchez available, the player having posted an upbeat message on his social media accounts ahead of the Uruguay game, midfielder Cazorla is not expecting to be involved this weekend.
Cazorla has not featured since picking up an Achilles injury during the 6-0 Champions League win over Ludogorets at the Emirates Stadium on Oct. 19.
Speaking to Spanish radio station Cadena COPE, Cazorla confirmed his return was not imminent.
"I still don't know the exact time. I am trying to return as soon as possible to be with the team again, but I cannot say if it will be soon or if I still have a few weeks left,'' he said.
Alexis Sanchez battles for the ball with Edinson Cavani in Chile's 3-1 win against Uruguay.
Alexis Sanchez scored twice in Chile's defeat of Uruguay on Tuesday.
"It is what I do not know, but hopefully it will be as soon as possible.''
Wenger will be hoping for a clean bill of health from all of his returning internationals, having lost the services of forward Lucas Perez to an ankle injury just ahead of the international break.
Mesut Ozil was not involved in Germany's experimental lineup for their goalless draw against Italy in Milan on Tuesday night.
The attacking midfielder has been in impressive form this season, scoring a fine individual goal in the 3-2 win away over Ludogorets, which secured Arsenal's place in the Champions League knockout stages once again.
Ozil has challenged his teammates to produce another stand-out display to get the required result against one of their direct Premier League rivals -- just as they did when dismantling Chelsea 3-0 in September.
"[We need to] win every game, get as many points as possible and also be successful against the big teams, like we were against Chelsea,'' Ozil said on Arsenal Player.
"We have the quality to beat any team and that's what we want to show this season.
"You can see that the big clubs at the top have quality, and that we have to win every game because of how tight it is at the top.
"Our goal has to be to look at ourselves. If we win the games, we'll be at the top at the end.''

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez faces probe into tax during Barcelona spell - report

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez has been accused of defrauding the Spanish tax authorities of almost €1 million for concealing part of what he earned from image rights during his time as a Barcelona player, according to Catalan newspaper El Periodico. 

The daily publication reported that the public prosecutor's office has filed a complaint against Sanchez, who is suspected of having filed fraudulent tax returns in 2012 and 2013 to avoid paying €983,443 (£889,169).

El Periodico said Sanchez, who joined Arsenal in the summer of 2014 after three seasons at Barca, is alleged to have sought to conceal earnings from his image rights by using companies set up in Chile and in Malta.

The newspaper report claims the Chile international is alleged to have defrauded the authorities of €587,677 in 2012 and €395,766 in 2013.

If confirmed, the 29-year-old would be the fifth player to have been on the books of Barcelona to have had problems with taxes in the Spanish courts.

Earlier this summer, Barca star Lionel Messi was found guilty of three counts of tax fraud. The Argentina captain was fined and handed a suspended 21-month prison sentence.

Messi's Argentina and Barca teammate Javier Mascherano entered a guilty plea for concealing part of what he earned from image rights and was fined and given a one-year prison sentence that was also suspended.

Former Cameroon star Samuel Eto'o, who played for Barca from 2004 and 2009 and is currently with Turkish side Antalyaspor, and Brazilian defender Adriano also have open cases against them regarding alleged tax evasion in Spain.

Adriano left Barca after six seasons at the club to join Besiktas this summer.