Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit questions whether Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are playing for January moves away from the club
- Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are close to the end of their Arsenal contracts
- Ozil has shown upturn in form of late and Sanchez is club's second-top scorer
- Emmanuel Petit says Arsenal's stars' efforts could be linked to January window
Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has suggested Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez's performances for the Gunners could be dictated by an attempt to engineer a January move.
Ozil and Sanchez are approaching the end of their contracts at the end of the season, leaving Arsenal with a dilemma of selling up next month or potentially losing two star men for nothing.
While manager Arsene Wenger has suggested neither will leave, his former player Petit believes both men could be angling for an exit in the winter window.
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez are nearing the end of their contracts with Arsenal
Emmanuel Petit has suggested the players may be looking for January transfer moves
Manchester City were summer suitors for Sanchez while Ozil, who has been among Arsenal's best players in recent weeks, has been linked with a move to Manchester United.
Petit told Paddy Power: 'It's great news for Arsenal that they've returned to form, but is that just because the transfer window is around the corner?
'Who knows if they still want to leave? I really hope they remain at the club but, if they do, they need to show the same commitment to help Arsenal to a Champions League spot.'
Arsenal were beaten 3-1 by Manchester United at home on Saturday evening, but Petit still sees his former club as a top-four side based on that performance.
Wenger's side had 33 shots on goal but came undone with Antonio Valencia's goal and Jesse Lingard's double either side of Alexandre Lacazette's strike.
'The way they played with desire and offensive flair reminded me of how we used to play,' said Petit, who won the Premier League with Arsenal in 1998.
'In the second half, I saw a great Arsenal team on the pitch – they showed fantastic character and personality. Arsenal will definitely make the top four if they keep that level of performance up.'
Ozil could not prevent Arsenal being beaten by Manchester United despite his recent form
Emmanuel Petit was speaking exclusively to Paddy Power News
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