Arsene Wenger is confident Arsenal can keep hold of Alexis Sanchez, despite the Chilean publicly announcing his desire to play in the Champions League.

The Gunners boss spoke to the press on Tuesday about the ongoing saga, and name-dropped Robin van Persie while trying, and ultimately failing, to make a point.

Back in 2012 the Holland forward left the Gunners for Old Trafford, where he lifted the Premier League trophy in his first season with Manchester United.

Similarities have been made between the two players, what with Sanchez, who has been linked with Manchester City, PSG, Bayern Munich and Chelsea in recent months, ready to jump ship in a bid to achieve things on a person level.

The Chilean is keen to play Champions League football next season (
Image:
EPA)

However, Wenger dismissed the link, telling reporters: "Every case is different, van Persie was going from 30 to 31, when he left he had one year on his contract. Sanchez is younger."

On face value it seems a valid point. It would make more sense to extend the Chilean's contract over van Persie's, given he is just 28. However, his words don't quite ring as true as they would first appear... and here's why.

Wenger lost Robin van Persie to Manchester United in 2012 (
Image:
Getty)

The Holland international was 29 when he left Arsenal for Manchester United - the same age as when he lifted the trophy for them that season.

Sanchez is indeed younger, but not by nearly three years as Wenger claimed, by just 163 days. However, he was deemed too old for a contract extension at the time.

The Holland international won the title in his first season with the Red Devils (
Image:
Manchester United)

Still, regardless of his reluctance to admit the situation is similar, the Gunners boss is keen to prevent history from repeating itself this time round.

"The decision has been made and we will stick to that," Wenger told reporters. "The decision is not to sell. I have not spoken to him (since the interview). But I can only reiterate what I have said before (he will not be sold)."

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