Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac has been hailed as a hero after fending off two armed robbers who targeted himself, team-mate Mesut Ozil and their wives.

In a widely shared video, Kolasinac can be seen fighting off masked men with knives after the group was confronted in north-west London.

Yasmin Tahsiner, the manager of a restaurant where the players sought refuge after the incident, told PA she received a call from Kolasinac and Ozil's wife Amine at around 5pm on Thursday explaining they were being chased in their car by two attackers on mopeds.

The man, who no longer resides at the house, said he was "targeted" and did not think the incident with the footballers was linked as his attackers were arrested and "went down for 16 years".

However, he said the attacks were "all in the Hampstead area" and he drives "very high profile" cars with "very, very personalised number plates".

He added: "I think it's about time the police pulled their finger out and started to protect people who are entitled to protection."

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said no arrests have yet been made in connection with Thursday's incident.

Chief Inspector Jim Corbett of Operation Venice, the Metropolitan Police unit aimed at tackling motorcycle-enabled crime, urged any witnesses to come forward.

He said: "While detectives are actively pursuing lines of enquiry, I would ask any member of the public who has any information or video footage to contact police."

He also said that over the past 12 months police had reduced this type of crime by more than half and that they will continue to target the culprits.