Arsenal captain Per Mertesacker has said Alexis Sanchez is "definitely" staying at the club next season.
Sanchez's future remains unclear as he is set to enter the last year of his contract, but Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger reiterated on Tuesday that he will not sell the Chile international.
And Mertesacker, who is retiring next season to take charge of Arsenal's academy, told Fox Sports in Australia that he is expecting to line up alongside Sanchez in his final year as a player.
When asked if Sanchez is staying at Arsenal, Mertesacker said: "Yes, definitely. I think [Sanchez] was impressive in the Confederations Cup. He's now on holiday so it's quiet in terms of conversations. But he's a warrior on the pitch.
"I think he wants to come back as quickly as possible -- he hates holidays, he hates to calm down. I'm looking forward to playing alongside him in my last season and he thinks the same."
Arsenal are in Australia for the start of their preseason tour, which includes two friendlies in Sydney this week.
Sanchez was left out of the travelling squad after helping Chile to this summer's Confederations Cup final, but Mesut Ozil and new signing Alexandre Lacazette are set to play in the games -- and both helped launch Arsenal's new third kit in a photo shoot in front of Sydney Harbour Bridge on Wednesday.
Exit the shadows. Light up the game. @Arsenal #StepOut pic.twitter.com/zRTNi7ymuP
- PUMA Football (@pumafootball) July 12, 2017
Ozil is also entering the final year of his contract and has yet to sign an extension.
But Mertesacker said that keeping both Ozil and Sanchez will be key to the team's Premier League title chances.
"We have a strong squad and we do not want to lose any players," he said. "Even in their final contract year we need them. We cannot afford to lose them. If you're talking about championships, to keep our best players is key."
Speaking to reporters including ESPN FC in the mixed zone, Mertesacker said that Arsenal have not shown the consistency needed to challenge for the Premier League or Champions League, but he hopes the players can find take a step toward that in preseason.
He said: "We try to stick to our values and our strengths. We try to stick to that. I mean, we haven't shown that consistency that leads to championships. That's what it's all about -- to create momentum over a longer period of time than we've shown. It's all about getting that spirit right and the team in a good shape, and that starts here in Australia. We hope we can find that grind and competitiveness here in preseason."
A change in tactics from 4-3-3 to 3-4-3 saw Arsenal make a late push for the top four and win the FA Cup and Mertesacker said that formation gives them the flexibility to achieve more.
"I think we're still learning a lot. We basically started that toward the end of the season so it's a learning process still. We're finding out how we complement each other best. We're going to be tested in those games and we'll see how we work out those certain situations. We changed the system and had success very quickly. You're always going to go through adversity but we're flexible."
Mertesacker added the tactical change will help Arsenal to tighten up defensively while not losing any attacking threat.
"We don't have a No. 10 kind of player," he said. "Ozil used to play the No. 10 role in the 4-3-3. Here you've got two holding midfielders and three players up front who can basically have freedom in that system.
"The key is going to be to have at least seven players behind the ball, and that will help us instead of six in a back four plus two holding midfielders. A lot of questions will be asked throughout the season and other teams recognising this system, they will test us a lot, and it's down to us with how we deal with that."
Mertesacker will retire at the end of the season to take charge of Arsenal's academy, and he hopes to make the most of his final season as a professional footballer.
"I relish my last season and I'm looking forward to it pretty much," he said. "I've been a pro for a long time in football and when you announce it'll be your last season, you want to make the most of it."