LEE DIXON insists Arsenal simply cannot afford to lose both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.
Fabregas, 24, has grown increasingly disillusioned with life at the Emirates despite Arsene Wenger's best efforts to keep the Spanish midfielder happy.
A return to Barcelona appears to be on the cards for the World Cup winner, while Nasri is currently stalling on signing a new contract.
He has been linked with a move to Premier League champions Manchester United but Dixon has warned the Gunners it would be a grave mistake to say goodbye to two of their biggest stars.
Dixon, who played for Arsenal from 1988 until 2002, said: "Every year it's a case of is Cesc going or is he staying?
"It will be no different this summer and it's inevitable that he will be linked with a move to Spain. At some point, it's also inevitable that he will actually leave.
Video: We can't lose Cesc and Nasri
"With Nasri, he had a great start to the season and I think he benefitted when Cesc wasn't in the team.
"He seemed to come into his own game a lot more in a central role instead of being out on the wing.
"I think it's imperative the manager keeps the best players, but do you want to keep someone if they are unhappy?
"In my book, it's always best to let unhappy players go and I think Cesc will come into that category sooner rather than later.
"I said at the start of last season that if Arsenal didn't start well, you could quite easily see his head dropping.
"I think he got the captaincy as a result of that to try and keep him at the club and inspire him to push the team on to win trophies.
"But that didn't happen and I don't particularly think he's a good captain anyway.
"I think it's imperative Nasri is made to feel welcome and shown that new signings will come in to strengthen the team.
"Will Cesc go? I think he'll definitely go at some point but to lose both of them will be a big, big blow."
Arsenal began last season with high hopes of becoming the first club to win the Quadruple.
But their campaign collapsed after a shock defeat to Birmingham in the Carling Cup final left Wenger's young side reeling.
United dumped them out of the FA Cup and Barcelona ended Arsenal's hopes of progressing in the Champions League.
At one stage the Gunners appeared to be in danger of missing out on a place in European football's top competition next season but they managed to cling on to fourth in the Premier League.
Dixon admits the picture is fairly bleak at the moment after six trophyless years for the North London outfit.
But he insists his former club can look to Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey as proof that the future can indeed be bright.
Dixon told SunSport: "When Jack was 16, Arsene said to me he believed he was the best player he'd seen at that age.
"I have a lot of respect for Arsene and it's very hard for me to criticise him at times because I know the all-round person.
"He has belief in these players and has built a team to help them develop. Arsene's seen a lot of players come through and Jack is special, there's no doubt about that.
"Jack and Aaron could really be the future of that central midfield area for many years to come.
"With that in mind, perhaps it is the right time for Cesc to move on — for his own sake and for the good of the club."
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Originally Posted by The Wengerbabies
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