Real Madrid alerted as Arsenal admit stars could leave

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has stunned fans by admitting Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira could be allowed to leave Highbury in the summer.

Real Madrid were linked with a massive £35 million bid for the pair last week and will be encouraged by Hill-Wood's comments today.

The Gunners supremo told the Daily Express, "Players generally will have to get real."

"They have to realise that wages are no longer going to move out of control."

"It is possible that players like Vieira and Pires will leave, unless they face facts."

He added: "We cannot possible sanction a massive increase in the wage bill."

"It has been steadily increasing, but in recent years it has escalated by 25 to 20 per cent. That is no longer sustainable."

"The wage bill will have to be more in line with inflation, and that's how it should be."

Hill-Wood added: "Of course, we would make an exception for an exceptional player, and Patrick Vieira is an exceptional player."

"We want them to sign new deals, but there is a limit to how much can offer them - and that's it."