Arsene Wenger has once again insisted that he will not be allowing contract rebels Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez to leave in January.

Chilean forward Sanchez and German midfielder Ozil are out-of-contract at the end of the season, which means they are free to talk to interested parties.

Manchester City remain firm favourites to land Sanchez, who also has interest from Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich – but Pep Guardiola is understood to be determined to land the South American.

Ozil, meanwhile, has been attracting the attention of Manchester United, Barcelona and clubs in his native German including Bayern and his first club Schalke.

Football INDEX Watch – At over £5 Alexis Sanchez is one of the most valuable players on the INDEX. Mesut Ozil is just outside the top-20 at £3.33

Despite the chances of offers arriving in January, Wenger is adamant the Gunners will not be tempted to cash in.

Asked if the pair would still be Arsenal players on February 1, Wenger said: “Yes, of course. That is what we said many times.”

Wenger insists he has not given up hope of persuading the pair to sign new deals, and said: “I am not the only one who can decide that. They have a part to play in that as well but, if it is my decision, yes.”

Bookmakers are siding with Wenger and his feelings, and are backing both players to stay – both are odds on, Sanchez is 1/10, whilst Ozil is 1/25.

“I know that trusting Arsene Wenger is dangerous, but we’re taking him at his word – and make both Sanchez and Ozil heavily odds-on to remain at Arsenal in January,” said PaddyPower spokesman Lee Price.

“Man City are now out to 11/2 to sign Sanchez in the New Year, while the shortest odds for Ozil are 10/1.”