The departure of the long-serving 31-year-old World Cup winner - a member of the 2003-2004 'Invincibles' side - comes a day after the sale of unsettled Alexander Hleb to Barcelona.

With the combative Mathieu Flamini having also left on a free transfer to AC Milan at the end of last season, Wenger must now rebuild the heartbeat of a team which set the early pace in the Barclays Premier League before eventually fading out of the title race.

The arrival of promising Wales teenager Aaron Ramsey, from Cardiff for £5million, is another sign of Wenger's faith in youth.

Arsenal fans will get a glimpse into that future when Ramsey lines up alongside the likes of Theo Walcott and young Mexican striker Carlos Vela in a pre-season friendly at Barnet on Saturday.

However, there is no doubt the Gunners still need some experience in the middle of the park if they are to mount another assault on domestic and European honours next season.

Samri Nasri, a £12million summer recruit from Marseille, is more of a wide, attacking player and, although Abou Diaby would relish the chance of cementing his place alongside Euro 2008 winner Cesc Fabregas at the heartbeat of the Arsenal team, Wenger will, as ever, have a back-up plan in mind.

That could yet be a move for Aston Villa's unsettled England midfielder Gareth Barry - although highly unlikely to be for the £18million which the midlands club have insisted on during their dealings with Liverpool.

Arsenal's own valuation, meanwhile, of Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor seems to have fended off the interest of AC Milan, who declared their transfer dealings done for the summer following the capture of Ronaldinho.

The 24-year-old - who finished top scorer last season with 30 goals despite a run of just two in 10 games when Arsenal needed him most - is set to join up with the rest of the Arsenal squad on Monday when they head out to Austria for a pre-season training camp.