Emmanuel Adebayor may have played his last game for Arsenal as the Togo international, the subject of interest from Milan and Internazionale, has been ruled out of Sunday's finale against Stoke City with the groin complaint that prevented him playing last weekend at Manchester United.

Arsène Wenger, who received the public backing of the club's chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, is due to meet Adebayor's agent, Stéphane Courbis, at the end of the season to discuss the striker's future after a trying campaign at the Emirates. The 24-year-old, so impressive when scoring 30 goals last term, has been hampered by fitness and form problems and, having spoken glowingly of the prospect of a transfer last summer ahead of signing a new £80,000-a-week contract, has been the subject of frustration among a vocal section of Arsenal fans in recent weeks.

Courbis indicated this week that he would seek talks with Wenger "to evaluate the situation" though he was insistent that there had been no fresh contact from either of the Italian suitors. The Milan president, Silvio Berlusconi, has admitted that he is hopeful of securing the forward this summer and Inter's coach, Jose Mourinho, is understood to have turned his attentions away from a move for Didier Drogba, his former player at Chelsea, in favour of the younger Adebayor.

The forward had missed the goalless draw at Old Trafford but had been expected to return for Sunday's visit of Stoke. However, Wenger expects to select from the same squad as last week with the exception of Samir Nasri and Lukasz Fabianski, whose knee injury may hand Vito Mannone, a 21-year-old Italian goalkeeper, a first-team debut. "Vito Mannone might get a call-up," said Wenger, "but we still have to assess Fabianski. He is 50–50 for the game at the moment. Nasri has patella tendinitis and is out for the weekend. Apart from that, everyone from the Manchester United game is OK."

Wenger expects to make several signings this summer and Adebayor's departure, while adding to the money at his disposal, would necessitate the purchase of a replacement. The board appears to recognise as much and significant funds are expected to be made available with Gazidis, in Dubai to launch a new soccer school, stressing yesterday that he would be open to Wenger remaining at the Emirates beyond the duration of his current contract, which stretches to 2011.

The pair discussed potential transfer targets at the club's London Colney training ground earlier in the week for the summer, with Gazidis indicating that Wenger retains the board's support. "Arsène is staying," he said. "We had lunch two days ago and we were both saying how much we were looking forward to next season. We can't wait for it. He is clearly staying. We've said that, he said that. He has the full, unequivocal support of our board."

Wenger's future had been cast into doubt after Florentino Pérez, who is hoping to be reinstated as Real Madrid's president in their election this summer, revived his interest in luring the Frenchman to the Bernabéu with the Arsenal manager admitting a role in Spain would be "interesting". Those comments were made the morning after a meeting with shareholders where sections of the audience had given Wenger a hard time during a question-and-answer session.

The club's supporters are planning a show of support for the 59-year-old on Sunday, with Gazidis saying that "the majority of our fans" are still hugely supportive of Wenger. "We've consistently said we would like him to remain involved with the club as long as he has the drive and the ambition to want to do that," he added. "It does not surprise me that clubs like Real Madrid would be interested in Arsène Wenger. He would be the most in-demand manager internationally in the game."

Arsenal's left-back Gaël Clichy has said the club would have found it hard if Wenger had left. "After what the boss has achieved at Arsenal, it will be very difficult to cope without him," he said.

Meanwhile it was reported last night that Arsenal's captain, Cesc Fábregas, has been cleared by the Football Association over an alleged spitting incident after the FA Cup tie against Hull City in March.

Fábregas was charged with improper conduct but it appears an FA disciplinary panel has decided he has no case to answer. The midfielder was accused of spitting at Hull's assistant manager, Brian Horton, and Hull submitted statements to the governing body. But Fábregas has consistently protested his innocence.