Wenger takes aim at Sanchez

ARSENE Wenger has warned contract rebel Alexis Sanchez that he has the power of the Arsenal board behind him.

Sanchez (above) is refusing to sign a new Gunners deal and has made it clear he wants to quit the Emirates.

But Wenger is prepared to play hardball and insists that transfer policy is in his hands – and that there is no pressure from the board to sell.

Wenger said: “Yes, the board back me to make the decisions on the technical front. Is that comings and goings? That is technical.”

The Gunners boss does not want to sell the 28-year-old – especially to a Premier League rival – and is determined to keep him at the Emirates this season, even if it means allowing the £80million-rated frontman go for free next summer.

Wenger is aware that Sanchez will be committed – no matter what the club decide about his future – with the World Cup in Russia at the end of the season.

But he also has Mesut Ozil, Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Mohamed Elneny in the same contractual position as the Chile star and believes they too could end up in a similar logjam.

“I warn you that you are going to see that more and more,” he said. “It will become common for one single reason: the inflation rate is so high on wages and the agent will speculate on high wages three or four years before the end of a contract.

“The clubs are not in a position where they can afford to do it. Will clubs be interested in running down contracts? Yes.

“With the amount of transfers, you buy just normal players for £50m. The clubs do not want to pay this for normal players. They will want to wait until the player is free.”

Wenger will discuss the future of injuryprone Wilshere in the next three weeks with another loan deal a possibility. “It is his first week back and we need to sit down and see where he will go,” he said.

“I made him start at a very young age and want him to have the career he can have. But he has gone through difficult times. I want him to play somewhere. We have to decide that later.”

Wenger – who has given his full backing to the FA clampdown on diving – is also an admirer of Antonio Conte at Chelsea.

“Chelsea came out of a very average season and he has got them back to winning the title and being champions,” Wenger added.

“They had a bad start which shows he is not only mentally strong but is also intelligent enough to redress the problems.

“You expect him to be a real competitor as well. So I think his quality will make Chelsea dangerous again this season.”