The two Arsenal stars Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have both two years on their contracts left but are already keen to sign new extensions. Both can expect a huge pay rise in this case but their manager believes they stay because of the possibility to win trophies and not because of the money.
"I think these kind of players can raise a little bit above the financial aspect of the game because they are not poor and they have to look really on the football side," he told ' Sky Sports'.
"We have a scale of wages but it has become a bit more individual than when I arrived 20 years ago because every case is a bit special. It has changed a little bit but anyway - you don't need to worry, they are all well paid.
"I blame nobody. If you were a player you would try the same. It has always been difficult to keep the good players. They have to feel that you meet their needs at the club and they get paid for it. Ideally you don't go into the final year but that is why we negotiate before," the Frenchman said.
He knows that other clubs are eyeing his stars: "They are wanted by other clubs and it's normal they try to get the maximum out of their negotiations because they have 10 years to play at the top level if all goes well. My whole life I fight to get the players paid as much as I can".
Furthermore he explained he has to offer new deals two years or one year before a contract ends, as the players' value increases.