Tomas Rosicky, Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta face Arsenal exits at end of the season
Arsene Wenger is preparing for life without the midfielders despite each being among the squad's most experienced members
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal are unlikely to offer new deals to Tomas Rosicky, Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta, with midfield trio’s current contracts all set to expire in the summer.
According to The Evening Standard, no final decision has been taken regarding the players’ futures but Arsene Wenger is preparing to replace each of the players, who are among the most senior in his squad.
Rosicky, who is out until Christmas after undergoing knee surgery, is yet to play a minute of first-team football this season.
The 35-year-old had appeared to be leaving the club last summer only for a late change of heart as Arsenal invoked a clause in his previous deal to prolong his stay by an additional 12 months.
The Czech Republic international, who is yet to play a minute of first-team football this season, started his career at Sparta Prague and would be open to finishing his career there once his decade of service in north London is marked with a testimonial game next year.
Wenger is believed to harbour concerns about the 35-year-old’s ability to perform consistently at the highest level — especially after his latest fitness setback — and that same feeling is present towards Flamini.
The Frenchman is 32 in March and it is believed that within the club there are some who believe his best days are behind him.
Flamini’s poor performance in Arsenal’s Capital One Cup exit to Sheffield Wednesday has been used to argue his squad place could be better used by a younger midfielder.
Flamini’s presence is valued in the dressing room and Wenger would be sad to lose a trusted lieutenant like him.
The same also goes for Arteta. He may have started just two first-team games this season but he is still club captain and a player whose professionalism is highly regarded.
Arteta turns 34 in March, however, and has found himself a bit-part player with Francis Coquelin and Santi Cazorla preferred in a central midfield pairing.
As ever, the ultimate decision on all three players lies with Wenger and a prominent factor will be the club’s ability to find suitable replacements in the transfer market next summer.
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