Arsene Wenger has made it clear that he will not be allowing any players to leave in January as Arsenal will be challenging on four fronts in the new year.

The Gunners play BATE Borisov in the Europa League on Thursday but that will be their last involvement in Europe until February when the tournament resumes.

Arsenal, 17/2 to beat BATE 3-0 and 7/1 to win the Europa League outright, are still involved in the Carabao Cup while the third round of the FA Cup takes place in January. Wenger’s team are also in the race to finish in the top four of the Premier League.

Olivier Giroud, Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott have all been linked with transfers recently while there continues to be conjecture as to whether Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez will sign new contracts with the Gunners.

Wenger said: “I have to consider the interest of the player but dominant of that will be the interests of the club and if you can combine the two it is even better but first is what is important for the club.

“They have to make their decisions, I have to make mine.

“Overall I try to give them competition, which is what they have had until now. But these are discussions I have had with the players. It’s part of it.

“It is difficult to keep them happy. As a player, they fight and I must say this is a job where you always have to be ready. When you are called up you have to be ready.”

Wenger has also said he wants Walcott and Aaron Ramsey to sign new contracts with the club.