Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was quick to put a lid on his derby win euphoria on Saturday by saying that Nicklas Bendtner is at Emirates to stay.
The striker scored his sideÂ’s winner in the 2-1 win over Tottenham, and the Denmark internationalÂ’s future at the club has been speculated on of late due to his bit-part use by Wenger.
However, talk of another loan move for the 19-year-old was given the short shrift by the French tactician.
“Nicklas is here for four more years and we want to keep him,” said Wenger unequivocally in the Sunday Mirror.
“Nowhere else in the world do you have so many young players in a club. He is only 19 and he is good enough to have a long-term future here.
“I always thought we had the players and the team to challenge for the league.
“I thought it was possible. But when I listened to the radio or watched television, I thought I must be crazy!
“We know the players want it and it shows the mentality of the team. There are 20 games to go and we are in a strong position. You cannot argue with all the points we have got.”
Meanwhile, the conjecture surrounding Jens LehmannÂ’s future continues to rumble on, with reports in many Sunday newspapers hinting at a January exit for the German keeper.
“I am not in the situation where I have any bad feelings towards Jens Lehmann,” said Wenger.
“He is a 200 percent professional fighter but we have three goalkeepers of top class and the two who do not play can feel that my decisions are not justified.
“Lukasz Fabianksi can feel that as well. At the moment (Manuel) Almunia is doing very well.
“Manuel had no CV when he came here and he had to make that CV here. The more experience he gets, the better he plays.”
