Arsenal legend David Seaman believes the club should give Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez the wage increases necessary to keep them at the Emirates Stadium.
There has been speculation over the futures of both players as their contracts expire in 2018 and they are yet to agree new deals.
Various clubs have been linked with the duo amid reports that Arsenal are reluctant to meet their wage demands.
“To win the title Arsenal have got to keep their best players,” former Gunners and England goalkeeper Seaman told the Daily Mirror.
“We used to do that. When big clubs came calling for Thierry Henry or Patrick Vieira, we always managed to send them packing.
“But then the club went through a phase of selling them, although maybe that was partly because finances forced our hand.
“Now they are in a situation where they have a great chance of winning the Premier League for the first time in 13 years and they don’t need to sell.
“The Emirates stadium is paid for, the bank manager is happy, so if it means paying Sanchez and Ozil what they are worth – or perhaps even a little bit more – just do it.”
Seaman also believes that losing their star duo could cost Arsenal financially in the long run.
“If Arsenal lost Sanchez now, they would have to spend a colossal amount of money, maybe £50-60 million, to bring in a replacement of his quality,” he said.
“Why not just go the extra mile to keep him and Ozil at Arsenal? They are special players, and it’s special players who make the difference between winning the major trophies and coming close.
“People talk about breaking the wage structure and upsetting the applecart, but in the dressing room nobody will complain if the club accommodates a couple of higher earners who are in that ‘special’ bracket and they deliver the title.
“Arsene must make sure that if either of them leaves – and all the supporters hope it doesn’t come down to this – it must not be for financial reasons.
“I’m all for good housekeeping, but sometimes in football you’ve got to push the boat out a bit further. You have to stay ambitious.”