LONDON -- Arsene Wenger says Mesut Ozil will not be joining Manchester United in January, but has yet to decide whether to hand Jack Wilshere a new contract.
Wenger told a news conference on Friday that he wants to keep all his current players in the January transfer window, before adding that he would still listen to offers.
But the Arsenal boss said there is no chance of Ozil, who is out of contract next summer, joining United when the transfer window opens, despite reports linking him to Jose Mourinho's side.
"No, we have never been approached by Man United anyway, so I don't see why that came up and who found that," Wenger said. "It's always something that has been created. [He will stay] until the end of the season for sure, the rest is open."
Ozil, Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez are all out of contract in the summer, while Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott have been linked with January moves in order to get more playing time.
Wilshere only made his first Premier League start of the season in Wednesday's 0-0 draw at West Ham, and Wenger said he has yet to sit down with the player to discuss his future, though the goal is still to sort it out before the transfer window opens.
"I will talk to him. I said the end of December and we are at the beginning of December, so it's true that it's not far, but I wanted to see as well how much he can contribute and last physically," Wenger said. "It is important as well for him to be happy here."
But Wenger added that Wilshere has not hurt his chances of getting a new deal.
"I think it was an encouraging performance [against West Ham]," he said. "He suffered certainly a little bit in the last 20. But we were in a position where we had to attack, so I left him on the pitch because of course he can contribute to that, but overall it's a positive. He has been very patient and worked very hard."
Many expect Arsenal to get renewed offers for Sanchez -- and possibly Giroud or Walcott -- in January, and while Wenger initially said "they will all stay," he also made it clear that he could entertain offers if they are good enough.
"It's very difficult for me to tell you because I will analyse every case individually and separately," he said. "Overall I would say my wish and my desire is that everybody stays. After, if you come and tell me, 'look, that's what I offer you for this player,' I will say yes or no."
Wenger also defended Sanchez's recent performances, with the forward coming in for criticism after the recent draws against Southampton and West Ham.
Sanchez has just four Premier League goals so far this term after netting 24 last season, and many have questioned whether he is still giving his all for the club, but Wenger said his mind is still on the job.
"Yes, he is focused in training. It is true at the moment it doesn't come off as much as it did before, but you go through periods where it is like that and I must say he fights and always tries to make a difference," Wenger said. "Maybe when you are less successful in your finishing, you want to force the game a little bit, but overall I cannot fault his commitment or his attitude at all."
Arsenal are in seventh place in the Premier League heading into Saturday's home game against Newcastle, when Shkodran Mustafi could make a return from a thigh problem. However, Aaron Ramsey is out for three weeks with a hamstring injury, while Wenger said Walcott has a minor groin problem.