Van Dembele, with five goals and six assists in 17 Ligue 1 matches for Olympique de Marseille

The Belgian is expected to sign a three-year contract in the next week, but a lack of interest from big club clubs could delay a deal. “He’s definitely a great player,” Wenger said. “He’s had some injury problems, but he’s come through. A big Belgian like that is a really good signing for us. I think he’ll be in the squad. He’s played for Marseille now and enjoyed it.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

On Sunday, Arsenal were fifth in the Premier League at the halfway stage, but have since dropped six points in their last five matches. Arsene Wenger’s decision to sit on Oxlade-Chamberlain is baffling – after all, his form is in the running for PFA Fantasy Player of the Year and he was in on a goal for Arsenal against Tottenham earlier this season. The midfielder, signed from Southampton, has had only three starts so far this season.

Davinson Sanchez

A £32.5m signing from Deportivo La Coruna, Sanchez was a crucial part of Depor’s title triumph last term, as he scored the winning goal in his first game at the Santiago Bernabeu. He has scored 24 goals in the Spanish La Liga this season, but remains a long way off that goal total. With a return of 20 goals this season, Sanchez feels he should be competing for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award, but Wenger, for all his talk of the player’s future, might not fancy it.

Wojciech Szczesny

With his country struggling for goals, Szczesny started in the Arsenal starting XI for the first time on Sunday – but hasn’t missed a beat since joining Arsenal from Bayer Leverkusen for £11.5m four months ago.