FC Basel vs Arsenal: Arsene Wenger 'naive' for believing money should not be a footballer's only incentive

Wenger is in negotiations with Sanchez and Ozil about new contracts

Wenger refused to use inexperience as an excuse for the defeat (Getty)

Arsene Wenger believes earning more money should not be the only incentive for the world's elite footballers - although he admits that his view may make him "naive".

The Arsenal boss was reacting to reports both Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are holding out for parity with the Premier League's top earners as the duo continue to negotiate extensions to their current deals.

Talks with representatives for both players have been ongoing for some time but it has been claimed by the Evening Standard that only about contracts that see Ozil and Sanchez move into the same pay league as the likes of Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic at Manchester United.

Wenger, talking in Switzerland ahead of his side's final Champions League group game against Basel, said he believes there should be more to a top players' ambition than simply earning a similar amount to their peers.

"I would like to say the luxury of the modern game should be it's not only about the money, because the players make anyway wherever they play good money at this level," he said.

"I believe, personally, and maybe I am a bit naive, but 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.

"So I think, for me, that is more important nowadays and an important ingredient for every player to consider. The money is good everywhere for everybody."

Wenger said it was normal for negotiations to be ongoing as the pair enter the final 18 months of their current deals, and said Ozil and Sanchez had very little to do with the talks.

Sanchez and Ozil are discussing new contracts (Getty)

He said: "You know, nowadays, you negotiate with the agents more than with the player. We are in negotiations, yes.

"The players have 18 months away from the end of their contracts, so it's normal. But the players always come in at the end, when it's a renewal, because with the first contract you need the players.

"But after that, when you renew, 90% of the contracts are negotiated with the agents."