Mathieu Flamini, who has started 17 of Arsenal's 51 games so far this season, has admitted a lack of first-team opportunities could force him to leave the club.
The defensive midfielder was recruited from Marseille in 2004 but has failed to secure a regular place in the club's starting XI.
With the 23-year-old now in competition with a clutch of young midfield talent being brought through by manager Arsene Wenger, including Cesc Fabregas, Abou Diaby and Denilson, Flamini says he could be approaching the end of his time at the Emirates Stadium.
"The next three years will be important for me," he said. "I want to play, to go to the next level. The Arsenal team is young, it has quality, but I am not playing as much at the moment. It isn't easy to live like this and I am in a situation where all players ask themselves questions.
advertisement"I have just spent three years at Arsenal and my lawyer has told me that I could leave in June. For that, I must pay the final year's salary to the club."
Flamini's stock rose when he was drafted into the France squad for February's friendly against Argentina. He has hardly been selected by Arsenal since then, however.
His versatility came to Arsenal's rescue last season when he played at left-back in the absence of the injured Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy. Flamini proved a key player in the team's Champions League run but lost his place to Cole for the final in Paris.
Flamini has now set his sights on European glory, at Arsenal or elsewhere. "I want to continue to work, to progress," he said. "I want to score more goals, make more passes and win the Champions League"
I'll be sorry to see Flamini leave, but he's not dull & can see that with the emergence of Diaby & Dennilson he is more likely to be 3rd choice in midfield, although he did a good job at left back in Gael & cashleys absense last season, but he will only realistlicly be used for cover, & hasnt really been 1st choice since Cesc was 1st brought into team when there was a bit of rotation between the two in the earlier days of their Arsenal careers.
The best move for both Flamini & Arsenal would be to allow him to move on.
He has been a great servant to us, never complained & given it his best whenever he has been called upon.
Wherever his future lays i wish him all the best.
