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LONDON. — Arsene Wenger claims he has seen his side grow both mentally and physically over the last 12 months – but is refusing to make any predictions about 2016.

Wenger will also be active in the January transfer window as he wants to bolster his squad to compete in three competitions.

Normally coy on his transfer plans, Wenger confirmed yesterday that he has already been working towards securing new arrivals at the Emirates Stadium.

“I’ll be busy, that’s for sure,” Wenger said. “I am already busy and I said already one month ago, we are a bit short to deal with all the competitions we face, especially in midfield. We will be busy, yes.”

Arsenal have claimed more points than any other side during the calendar year and head the English Premier League on goal difference going into Saturday’s game against Newcastle.

But having paid tribute to his side for the way they have developed since January, he refused point-blank to use the team’s current position as any sort of indicator of where they can finish when the season ends.

“Overall 2015 was a positive year for us because we were consistent,” he said.

“If you look from January 1 to December 31 I believe that we were consistent and have improved our results.

“The team has grown in stature, is more mature, more reliable and we won the FA Cup, the Community Shield.

“And in the Premier League we are in a strong position so hopefully 2016 will be better. I’m confident we will fight to stay there.

“But it is a long way to go – we are only halfway. Everybody wants to predict who will win it at halfway and that is unfortunately even for the most intelligent people that is impossible.

“I believe that we are mature enough and that we have the requested quality to fight and compete. The public opinion is not always stable, it changes a lot. It is always linked with the final result. We have to rise above that and show that we can deal with all that.

“We can have great solidarity in every single game and after that we have a chance. You cannot rule us out after 19 games. We have a chance and we want to fight for it.”

Meanwhile, Wenger tried to laugh off speculation linking him with the signing of Mohamed Elneny but the midfielder looks set to arrive at the Emirates as soon as the transfer window opens on January 2.

Reports suggested the Basel midfielder had even undergone a medical in Paris ahead of a £7.4m move to Arsenal – although Wenger squirmed when asked to confirm it.

“You know more than I do,” he suggested. “Unfortunately we cannot announce anything at the moment about this player because nothing has been concluded.” — The Daily Express.