Nicklas Bendtner may be given last chance to earn new contract at Arsenal by manager Arsène Wenger

Striker still likely to depart when his contract expires at the end of the season but manager will not completely shut the door on his career at the club.

In from the cold: Nicklas Bendtner made his first Premier League start for Arsenal since March 2011 Photo: 

Arsène Wenger is intending to turn down any offers for Nicklas Bendtner in January and is still open to giving him a final chance to earn a new contract at Arsenal.

Bendtner has nearly left Arsenal on numerous occasions over the past two years and, although he remains likely to depart when his contract finally expires at the end of the season, Wenger will not completely shut the door on his Arsenal career.

Wenger’s surprise decision on Wednesday to start Bendtner in the Premier League for the first time since March 2011 was rewarded with a goal against Hull City and, although the 25-year-old still has much to prove, he will be largely judged on the next six months.

Bendtner admitted that he has found his current role in the squad “difficult” but, although Arsenal were greatly irritated by his recent police caution for criminal damage in his own apartment block, they have been generally impressed by his training ground attitude.

Arsenal are still seeking another striker — and would have let Bendtner leave last summer had Luis Suárez or Demba Ba arrived — but they know that they are highly unlikely to find the right player in January. If, as expected, they do not make any major additions to their squad, Wenger will not allow Bendtner to depart in midseason.