Mixed injury news for Arsenal as Wenger denies interest in full-back

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has denied reports he is looking to sign Ricardo Pereira and insisted the club have not received any approaches for Carl Jenkinson.

It was claimed that the Gunners were considering making a bid of around £20m for 23-year-old full-back Pereira, who is currently on loan at Nice from Porto.

And a number of clubs have been reported to have come in for Jenkinson since Wenger indicated that he would be allowed to leave on loan.

However, speaking at a press conference on Thursday morning, Wenger said he had no interest in Pereira and had received no offers for Jenkinson.

Wenger added that Danny Welbeck is in contention for the FA Cup tie against Preston but that Santi Cazorla faces a continued spell on the sidelines with an Achilles injury.

Welbeck has recovered from a long-term knee problem, but Wenger does not know when Cazorla will be able to return.

Francis Coquelin, meanwhile, is expected to be out for around a month with a hamstring problem.

Asked about possible signings, Wenger said: “Who is coming out? At the moment, nobody. Who is coming in? Nobody.

“For us the best way would have been to get Danny Welbeck and Santi Cazorla back.

“There is very little hope of getting players of that quality during a January transfer window, so the best thing is to get those players back.”