Michael Owen: Arsenal an example of why clubs need their star players on long contracts

Arsenal are at risk of losing three of their star players for free next summer after contract talks stalled at the Emirates.

Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could all leave the club for nothing having rejected new deals.

Manager Arsene Wenger isn’t fazed about the possibility of letting £125million worth of players leave the club.

But Owen believes clubs must try to tie players down to longer contracts, although he admits it isn’t as simple as that.  

“Definitely they should be but it’s not as simple as that,” the former Liverpool striker told Express Sport.

“You’ve always got to make a decision when there’s two of three years left on someones contract because if you’re making a decision and if you’re not sure about someone or whatever and you go and give them a new five year contract and then they’re not doing great and you pay them telephone numbers for five years, it’s a big call.”

Wenger has insisted Sanchez will remain at the club and will respect the decision Arsenal have taken not to sell him this summer.

But Owen reckons Arsenal are wishing they had the Chile superstar on a longer deal.