Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn tells talkSPORT he would be ‘absolutely amazed’ if Alexis Sanchez left this summer

Nigel Winterburn has told talkSPORT he would be 'absolutely amazed' if Alexis Sanchez left Arsenal before 2018.

The Chile international has refused to sign a new contract at the Emirates and his current deal will expire at the end of the season.

Despite Arsene Wenger vowing to keep hold of his star forward, speculation persists that Sanchez will try to engineer a move Premier League rivals Manchester City this summer.

Winterburn, though, is convinced Sanchez is going nowhere just yet and expects him to respect Wenger’s wishes to see out his contract.

Speaking to Hawksbee and Jacobs, the Gunners legend said: "The way that Arsene Wenger is talking I would be absolutely amazed if Alexis Sanchez walks away from this football club, unless he is the type of player that would down tools - but he doesn’t seem that type of player to me.

"I expect him to be there until the end of the season."

Arsenal risk losing Sanchez for nothing next summer, but Winterburn insists it is a risk worth taking.

He continued: "With Sanchez out of the team, that would weaken Arsenal.

"To get back into the Champions League is [worth] £40million so if you weigh it up, I would keep him and take the risk that he could sign for someone else [for free] if it doesn't work out at Arsenal."