The 21-year-old Denmark international was linked with a move to Roma after being spotted in the Italian capital. However, those reports have been rejected out of hand by Bendtner's agent and father Thomas, who insisted the trip was just part of the player's summer vacation plans.

The striker - who had a productive spell on loan at Birmingham City in 2006/07 - accepts there were times where his form was "like a Sunday league player", but he grew in confidence as the campaign progressed.

Wenger has no intentions of letting any of his current squad leave, and the club are close to finalising a new contract for leading scorer Robin van Persie.

The Gunners have already bought £11m defender Thomas Vermaelen, and Wenger is said to be closing in on Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh. Bendtner, though, remains very much central to Wenger's plans for the coming campaign.

"Nicklas has made big improvements since the start of the season. He has become an important player for this club," Wenger said. "When Nicklas is really switched on and focused, he is a handful for any defence in the world.

"He has shown that in the second part of the season. People forget how young he is, but I am sure he has won many people over in the second half of the season."