Arsenal transfer news: Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil are holding club 'to ransom', says Thierry Henry

The pair are both in the final 18 months of their current contracts and both are demanding significant pay rises

Sanchez has insisted that whether he signs a new contract 'depends on Arsenal' (Getty)

Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Özil are holding Arsenal “to ransom” in contract negotiations, according to club legend Thierry Henry.

The former striker also claimed that the pair would only deserve weekly salaries of £300,000 if they scored a hat-trick in every game.

Both Sanchez and Özil are in the final 18 months of their current deals and both are demanding significant pay increases before recommitting.

Sanchez has stressed that the agreement of new terms “depends on Arsenal”, while Özil is yet to put pen to paper despite months of negotiations.

Speaking after Sunday’s 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, in which both players put in underwhelming displays, Henry argued that the pair’s salary demands are unrealistic.

“Those two players are vital for the future of the club, they have to secure that deal,” he told Sky Sports. “But to what extent?”

“I don't know if Arsène is going to want 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.”

Özil has won two FA Cups with Arsenal since joining from Real Madrid for £42.5m in 2013. Sanchez, who arrived at the Emirates a year later, was only present for the club’s 2015 triumph.

Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, has repeatedly stressed that he is confident both players will commit their future to the club.

On Friday, Wenger insisted he had “no concern” over the pair’s contractual situations.

“You waste your time because these players have 18 months [left on their] contract and I don’t see why there is any urgency in every press conference to have that question,” he said.

“Maybe you lack a bit of creativity in the newspapers and you always come up with the same subject. I don’t see why that should turn up in every press conference.”