Cole is heavily linked with a move to Chelsea, but the two clubs are yet to reach a deal ahead of the transfer window deadline on September 1st, the 25-year-old full-back seems to be staying with the Gunners.

"I’ve given him permission to move and at the moment we have not reached the deadline, I could put him in the squad and then he could be sold tonight so I do not want to be confronted with that situation," Wenger told Arsenal's official website on Friday.

Chelsea earlier claimed that Arsenal were asking too much for Cole, with reports suggesting that Arsenal asked for 25 million Sterling pounds while Chelsea could only offer 16 million.

"At the moment it doesn’t look like a deal will be completed, I don’t know what’s stopping it but certainly not our demands."

The French manager added that if Cole would stay with Arsenal this season, he will have to work hard to retain his position in the team.

"If he’s not transferred, he will fight for his place like everybody else. If I have a player here and I think he’s good enough to play he plays." Wenger considered.