Mesut Ozil has handed Arsenal timely boost by saying his future with the club is not reliant on that of Arsene Wenger.

The German playmaker is set to run into the final 12 months of his contract as he continues to stall on an offer to become their highest-paid player ever on £200,000-a-week.

It has been suggested that the Frenchman's potential departure could also make up Ozil's mind, but he has now confirmed that any decision to stay at the Emirates will be made independently of questions over the manager.

Mesut Ozil insists he could still stay with Arsenal even if Arsene Wenger does leave this year

'Everything is open. We had talks with Arsenal. Right now I concentrate on the current season,' Ozil told Bild.

'Arsene Wenger was one of the main reasons I joined Arsenal. But I know that sometimes things go very fast in football and that you can never plan something.

'This is why it would be wrong to say that my future depends on my coach.'

Sportsmail undersands that despite doubts over a new two-year contract and protests from fans before Saturday's game against Lincoln, Wenger is now closer to staying than leaving and is intensifying transfer plans ahead of the summer.

Those close to the dressing room say defiance is growing in the wake of their 10-2 defeat to Bayern Munich, with many determined to prove doubters wrong and finish the season on a high.

Wenger will need a top-four finish and/or a FA Cup triumph to quell growing resentment from fans but his involvement in discussions to make major additions this summer suggests he still has hunger to prove those doubters wrong.

Ozil has regularly attributed Wenger as the main reason why he joined Arsenal in 2013

While Arsenal recognise that they need major improvement ahead of next season, tying Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to new deals will be seen as the most important pieces of business.

There is growing confidence that Ozil will sign the deal offered but Sanchez, who has appeared disinterested in recent games and is still in shakey ground after a bust up in training, is believed to want close to £300,000-a-week.

Paris Saint-Germain are interested in taking Sanchez off their hands and Arsenal would indeed cash in this summer rather than risk losing him for nothing in 2018.