Arsenal midfielders Tomas Rosicky, Mathieu Flamini and Mikel Arteta face a fight to save their Arsenal careers as the club are unlikely to offer any of them new contracts.

No final decision has yet been taken but Standard Sport understands the Gunners are planning for life without the trio, whose deals all expire at the end of the season.

Rosicky was 35 last month and manager Arsene Wenger expects him to be sidelined until after Christmas following knee surgery. He is yet to play a minute of first-team football this season.

The Czech Republic international 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.

Rosicky 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 Rosicky’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.

Mesut Ozil's best performances for Arsenal 8 show all Mesut Ozil's best performances for Arsenal 1/8 Arsenal 3-1 Stoke, September 2013 Ozil’s Emirates bow had Arsenal fans salivating about just what their £42.5 million signing from Real Madrid could achieve. The addition of the playmaker convinced fans that the club could finally challenge for the title once more and his two assists helped them on their way to doing just that, sending Arsenal top of the league.



His deliveries for Per Mertesacker and Bacary Sagna to head in were nigh on indefensible as Stoke were beaten at their own game. With Ozil at his best in late 2013 Arsenal looked irresistible. It wouldn’t last. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) 2/8 Arsenal 4-1 Everton, March 2014 Early 2015 was a torrid time for Arsenal and their No.11. Their title-charge collapsed with humiliating defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea while Ozil earned opprobrium for a dreadful penalty in defeat to Bayern Munich.



The FA Cup offered valuable respite for Arsene Wenger’s side and they were at their very best in the quarter-final against Everton. Ozil showed composed finishing to give the Gunners an early lead, sliding in Cazorla’s pass from the left.



As Arsenal battled back from 1-1 their playmaker was vital, moving the ball swiftly and sweetly and providing a late assist for Olivier Giroud when many others would have gone for goal. 3/8 Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool, April 2015 The 2014/15 season was severely disrupted for Ozil, who missed three months early in the campaign after picking up an injury against Chelsea. With the playmaker out Alexis Sanchez stepped up quickly to establish himself as the key man in the lineup and questions emerged in Ozil’s first games back as to whether the two could work together.



They proved so in style at the Emirates, demolishing Brendan Rodgers’ side in one of the best Arsenal performances in recent years. Ozil got on the scoresheet with a beautiful 25-yard free-kick but what was most impressive was the way he dovetailed with Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey on the right. Wenger had found an ideal formula. 4/8 Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2, August 2015 The statistics prove what an excellent display this was for the playmaker in what was a challenging trip to Selhurst Park. A pass accuracy of 98 per cent, just one misplaced pass, five chances created and one assist – this was Ozil at his confident best.



But for all that number sing the German’s praises it was moments such as a spectacular backheel turn past Pape Souare that made this such a special performance for Ozil. He was feeling as confident as he ever had in an Arsenal shirt, and that would last until October. 5/8 Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United, October 3 2015 Throughout 25 months at Arsenal the accusation thrown at Ozil was that he was little more than a flat-track bully. He had never produced in the big games.



He did against United.



Within 20 minutes he had dictated the course of a vital game, providing a cross for Sanchez to make it 1-0 after six minutes before passing the ball beyond David de Gea to put the hosts out of sight three minutes later.



Ozil went beyond confidence in this display – showing the arrogance that marks out the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo as the best in their profession. He knew he was better than anything United could throw at him, and it showed. AFP/Getty Images 6/8 Arsenal 2-0 Bayern Munich, October 20 2015 Redemption for Ozil came in the most timely of fashion as he scored the crucial second to secure one of Arsenal's great European victories.



The German had missed a crucial penalty against Bayern when the two sides met 18 months earlier in the knockout stages.



Two defeats in their opening games had put Arsenal on the brink of an even earlier exit in the Champions League group stages and they faced a must-win clash at the Emirates. For once Arsenal, and Ozil, rose to the occasion, obdurate in defence and incisive on the break.



Olivier Giroud's header had put the Gunners on the brink and it was Ozil who added the finishing touch, slotting home after a fine break by Hector Bellerin in the fourth minute of added time. Getty 7/8 Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City, December 21 2015 Two assists in a season when he registered 19 in the league, and they were both among Ozil's finest.



The first, to Theo Walcott, may even count as a double assist. First he finds the forward in space on the left corner of the area. Then, as Walcott curls the ball towards goal, Ozil ducks out of the way having left Joe Hart blind to the shot.



A more simplistic pass unleashed Giroud in behind the City backline. The Gunners had spent much of the first half on the back foot but led 2-0 at the break. It seemed like it could be decisive in the title race. David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images 8/8 Arsenal 6-0 Ludogorets, October 19 2016 A first career hat-trick for Ozil saw the German better his goal return for the 2014-15 season inside the first eight games of the campaign.



Arsene Wenger had long urged his record signing to weigh in with more goals, it appeared that the message had finally gotten through to Ozil. AFP/Getty Images 1/8 Arsenal 3-1 Stoke, September 2013 Ozil’s Emirates bow had Arsenal fans salivating about just what their £42.5 million signing from Real Madrid could achieve. The addition of the playmaker convinced fans that the club could finally challenge for the title once more and his two assists helped them on their way to doing just that, sending Arsenal top of the league.



His deliveries for Per Mertesacker and Bacary Sagna to head in were nigh on indefensible as Stoke were beaten at their own game. With Ozil at his best in late 2013 Arsenal looked irresistible. It wouldn’t last. (ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images) 2/8 Arsenal 4-1 Everton, March 2014 Early 2015 was a torrid time for Arsenal and their No.11. Their title-charge collapsed with humiliating defeats to Liverpool and Chelsea while Ozil earned opprobrium for a dreadful penalty in defeat to Bayern Munich.



The FA Cup offered valuable respite for Arsene Wenger’s side and they were at their very best in the quarter-final against Everton. Ozil showed composed finishing to give the Gunners an early lead, sliding in Cazorla’s pass from the left.



As Arsenal battled back from 1-1 their playmaker was vital, moving the ball swiftly and sweetly and providing a late assist for Olivier Giroud when many others would have gone for goal. 3/8 Arsenal 4-1 Liverpool, April 2015 The 2014/15 season was severely disrupted for Ozil, who missed three months early in the campaign after picking up an injury against Chelsea. With the playmaker out Alexis Sanchez stepped up quickly to establish himself as the key man in the lineup and questions emerged in Ozil’s first games back as to whether the two could work together.



They proved so in style at the Emirates, demolishing Brendan Rodgers’ side in one of the best Arsenal performances in recent years. Ozil got on the scoresheet with a beautiful 25-yard free-kick but what was most impressive was the way he dovetailed with Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey on the right. Wenger had found an ideal formula. 4/8 Crystal Palace 1 Arsenal 2, August 2015 The statistics prove what an excellent display this was for the playmaker in what was a challenging trip to Selhurst Park. A pass accuracy of 98 per cent, just one misplaced pass, five chances created and one assist – this was Ozil at his confident best.



But for all that number sing the German’s praises it was moments such as a spectacular backheel turn past Pape Souare that made this such a special performance for Ozil. He was feeling as confident as he ever had in an Arsenal shirt, and that would last until October. 5/8 Arsenal 3-0 Manchester United, October 3 2015 Throughout 25 months at Arsenal the accusation thrown at Ozil was that he was little more than a flat-track bully. He had never produced in the big games.



He did against United.



Within 20 minutes he had dictated the course of a vital game, providing a cross for Sanchez to make it 1-0 after six minutes before passing the ball beyond David de Gea to put the hosts out of sight three minutes later.



Ozil went beyond confidence in this display – showing the arrogance that marks out the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo as the best in their profession. He knew he was better than anything United could throw at him, and it showed. AFP/Getty Images 6/8 Arsenal 2-0 Bayern Munich, October 20 2015 Redemption for Ozil came in the most timely of fashion as he scored the crucial second to secure one of Arsenal's great European victories.



The German had missed a crucial penalty against Bayern when the two sides met 18 months earlier in the knockout stages.



Two defeats in their opening games had put Arsenal on the brink of an even earlier exit in the Champions League group stages and they faced a must-win clash at the Emirates. For once Arsenal, and Ozil, rose to the occasion, obdurate in defence and incisive on the break.



Olivier Giroud's header had put the Gunners on the brink and it was Ozil who added the finishing touch, slotting home after a fine break by Hector Bellerin in the fourth minute of added time. Getty 7/8 Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City, December 21 2015 Two assists in a season when he registered 19 in the league, and they were both among Ozil's finest.



The first, to Theo Walcott, may even count as a double assist. First he finds the forward in space on the left corner of the area. Then, as Walcott curls the ball towards goal, Ozil ducks out of the way having left Joe Hart blind to the shot.



A more simplistic pass unleashed Giroud in behind the City backline. The Gunners had spent much of the first half on the back foot but led 2-0 at the break. It seemed like it could be decisive in the title race. David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images 8/8 Arsenal 6-0 Ludogorets, October 19 2016 A first career hat-trick for Ozil saw the German better his goal return for the 2014-15 season inside the first eight games of the campaign.



Arsene Wenger had long urged his record signing to weigh in with more goals, it appeared that the message had finally gotten through to Ozil. AFP/Getty Images

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.