Despite claiming he can compete with United and Chelsea on the field over the next few years, Wenger has privately expressed fears that Arsenal will soon be too far behind the top teams in financial terms

Mathieu Flamini became the first to walk out when he agreed a move to AC Milan earlier in the week, turning down Arsenal's £55,000-a-week offer, and it is feared others may follow.

Alexander Hleb is determined to move to Inter Milan in the summer and Jens Lehmann has played his last game.

Adebayor, after suffering an initial knockback, is expected to make more noises following Sunday's final game of the season at Sunderland

His agent Stephane Courbis said: 'Now is not the time to talk about his contract. We'll wait until next week.'

Hleb's agent Nikolai Shpilevski said last night: 'Alexander is preparing to make one of the most important moves of his life. He is leaving Arsenal even though they want to offer him a new long-term contract and better conditions. There's no way back now.'

Wenger claimed his current team could eclipse the 2004 'Invincibles', but Arsenal are falling behind the top clubs in Europe in terms of transfer fees and salaries

Despite claims from former chief executive Keith Edelman that the manager has a pot of gold at his disposal, it is thought Wenger's hands are tied in the transfer market, largely due to the crippling cost of their two-yearold Emirates Stadium.

All that could be solved if the club were to accept the help of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov, but chairman Peter Hill-Wood and director Danny Fiszman say no.

Arsenal , along with Chelsea, have been offered the chance to sign Thierry Henry, but Wenger has turned down the opportunity

Henry was deemed a 'special case' when he signed a contract worth £130,000 a week at the Emirates in the aftermath of the defeat in the 2006 Champions League final, but Arsenal are no longer in a position to pay that kind of figure.