Both of the players’ contracts are due to expire at the end of the season and it is widely reported that they want to move to a club which can challenge for silverware.

Arsenal were drawn with Swedish minnows Osterund in the last 32 of the Europa League after they topped their group in the first round.

It gives them a good chance to progress to the latter stages and challenge for the trophy to try and tempt their star men to stay.

Arsene Wenger can guarantee his side’s place in the Champions League by winning the competition, just like Jose Mourinho’s Manchester Untied did last year.

But Smith thinks that the duo’s minds are already made up.

“I do not think it would persuade them (Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil) to stay if they won the Europa League,” Alan Smith told The Debate show.

“Jose Mourinho at one stage in the season went I’ll put all my eggs in one basket and it paid off.

“That’s not always going to be the case.

“I think for Arsene Wenger he could go both ways.

“He is playing a totally different 11 in the Europa League anyways it’s not like he’s mixing and matching.

“I think he will go that way for as long as possible.

“I think if they are in seventh position with no chance of getting into the Champions League spots then yes, he will probably do that in the latter stages, if they are still there.”