Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger believes the club’s star playmaker Mesut Ozil is happy to commit his future to the side but that it may come at a financial cost. 

The German World Cup winner is contracted to the side until 2018 but the Gunners are eager to ensure the star’s long-term future at the Emirates Stadium, despite Ozil’s demand for a heftier wage.

The 28-year-old is also allegedly seeking assurances the side will continue to compete for trophies. Arsenal won back-to-back FA Cups in 2014 and 2015 but have not won the league since 2004.

In the meantime, Wenger has remained coy over the ongoing negotiations

‘If you have a good bank, call me,’ he told Goal. ‘I don’t think he needs convincing. He wants to stay here.

‘It’s not just money. Arsenal can win titles of course. But that’s what we have to show. We are in a league where Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea everybody fights and you cannot guarantee that to anybody,’ he explained.

‘We keep that [negotiations] discreet. At due time we will come out with that. We want to keep our best players, of course. But the more I say that, the more he is in a stronger position,’ he concluded.

Ozil has been key to Arsenal’s strong start to the season and has scored three times in nine appearances thus far.