Gunners fire off wage warning

With Patrick Vieira entering the final two seasons of his contract, Hill-Wood used the French icon as an example of what could happen.

"Our wages are very high and manageable as long as we are successful," said the Arsenal supremo.

"If we have a bad year on the field then we will have a problem.

"We have to steel ourselves to say enough is enough.

"If a player wants another £1 million a year, he cannot have it. The reality is that if players start making these demands, we will insist they play elsewhere.

"That could happen if Patrick's contract runs out without us being able to renew it.

"We could not give him a massive pay rise, however much we wanted to keep him.

"We shall attempt to satisfy his wage demand, but we are not in a position to make a meaningful increase to anyone's salary."