Arsenal: Arsene Wenger tells Abou Diaby to prove himself to earn new deal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Abou Diaby needs to be "consistent" if his contract with the Gunners is to be renewed, while he also expressed his confidence in keeping both Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky in his ranks next season.

Having being plagued by injury during his time with the north London side, Diaby has only managed to make a single first-team appearance this season, during the League Cup game defeat against Southampton in September 2014.

With his contract set to expire in the summer, it was expected he would be leaving the club. However, after making his return to action with the reserves during the 4-0 win over Brentford at the end of March, Wenger has given the midfielder hope of a new deal.

"By me, yes [a decision over Diaby future has been taken]. I had a chat with him and told him how I can envisage the future. He has to make a decision. Of course he understands completely that he has to perform and to show that he can be present on a consistent way," Wenger said in the press conference ahead of the game against Liverpool.

"I will see where we go from there. I wouldn't like to go into details, we have to meet again to see where we go from what I told him. It has to be linked a little bit with his presence."

Arteta and Rosicky out and Sterling in?

At the same time, the manager says he hopes Arteta and Rosicky, who are out of contract at the end of next season, will stay at Arsenal despite increasing rumours about their exits. Reports in Spain have linked Arteta with a return to Real Sociedad to reunite with his former Everton manager, David Moyes.

Meanwhile, the Czech international playmaker recently claimed he was close to leaving the club during the January transfer window and even though he still has a contract until 2016, he leaves the door open over a summer exit.

But asked about whether the duo future will stay, Wenger responded: "Yes [I am confident Arteta's future will be resolved]. Same as for Rosicky as well, I am confident [something will be resolved].

Meanwhile, the Arsenal manager refused to confirm their interest in "top" Raheem Sterling after the Liverpool starlet revealed he has rejected an offer to commit his future to the Anfield club – and that he was flattered by links with the Gunners.

"Raheem Sterling is a top player, everybody in the country knows that now. He is a very important player for Liverpool of course. I don't want to interfere in [reports about Sterling's future], especially 48 hours before the game," he said.

"That's down to Liverpool, I don't want to interfere in that. It's not my problem. I do not want to speak about any move. We are not in a transfer period, we are in front of a big game. I respect Liverpool and I do not want to go into any supposed move for any of their players."