"Arsenal will not sell Theo Walcott" - Arsene Wenger

Arsenal will not sell Theo Walcott in January - even if he does not sign a new contract by Christmas.

Arsene Wenger has revealed for the first time that Arsenal will keep hold of the 23-year-old until the end of the season, despite the risk of him leaving in the summer for nothing.

Walcott has just six months left on his contract at the Emirates and talks have stalled over a new £75,000-a-week deal, with the player insisting he wants to play as a central striker rather than on the wing.

But, speaking after Walcott started and produced an impressive performance in Arsenal's 5-2 north London derby victory over Tottenham on Saturday, Wenger said discussions were 'positive'.

Asked whether Walcott would be sold in January if an agreement has not been reached, the Arsenal boss said: 'No. Will he stay until the end of the season? Yes.'

Wenger added: 'We continue (talks) in a positive way. We have until the end of December to sort this out.

'Theo can play both positions (striker and winger). He can play up front and he can play up front with (Olivier) Giroud as well. I think he has found a good mixture and good positional play on the wing. It makes him difficult to stop.

'It is always good when you can play everywhere. He finished as centre forward (against Spurs) and he scored the (fifth) goal.

'Honestly, when you play with the midfield we have - Jack Wilshere, Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta - in any position they will find you if you move well.'

Walcott's pace and movement have long been his greatest assets but it is only in the past few months that he has had Cazorla to pick him out.