Arsene Wenger dampens transfer talk that Arsenal could move for Thomas Lemar and Riyad Mahrez in January

Arsene Wenger has dampened speculation Arsenal could launch a fresh move for Monaco winger Thomas Lemar in January.

The Gunners failed with a deadline day move for £92million bid for Lemar as a condition of selling Alexis Sanchez to Manchester City.

The club failed to agree terms in time prompting Sanchez’s £60m transfer to collapse but with City among a number of sides aiming to lure the forward from Emirates Stadium in January, it has been suggested Arsenal could revive a deal for Lemar.

However, asked about the possibility of doing so, Wenger said: “No, at the moment I have told you I have a big squad and the problem for me is to keep everyone together until the end of the season. Do we go for the transfer market in January? I don’t know yet.”

Wenger, who also ruled out a deal for Leicester City winger Riyad Mahrez, instead chose to focus on the unity his bloated squad have shown this season and hailed their application in every competition.

Despite selecting a team of fringe players and youngsters, Arsenal can book their spot in the Europa League last 32 with two games to spare if they beat Red Star Belgrade in north London tomorrow.

“I personally believe my biggest pleasant experience is how focused the whole squad is in every single game,” said Wenger. “That is the first time in my life that I see that, how united and focused the entire squad is.

“I am really honest when I say that. You cannot say that any player, in any competition, has gone a little bit easy. The focus of the team has always been exceptional.”

“The fact that there is a good understanding in the squad, we have not bought seven or eight players in the middle of the season. They all know each other well and play together for quite a while. They have had together positive and negative experiences and they always responded well and I think there is respect within the squad that is an important ingredient.”