Lehmann & Flamini set to leave Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed on Sunday that goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will be leaving the club at the end of the season, while Mathieu Flamini is set to sign for AC Milan.

The 38-year-old Germany international was given a rousing send-off by Arsenal fans after coming on for the final 20 minutes of their 1-0 Premier League defeat of Everton at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger said Lehmann, who lost his place to Spaniard Manuel Almunia early in the season, was worthy of his ovation.

'He deserves that,' Wenger told the BBC. 'We have a big respect for him because he has been a 100 percent professional for the five years he was here.

'Overall he deserves that because he has contributed a lot to the success of the club and we will miss him because he's a very important player not only on the pitch but off the pitch.'

Lehmann joined in 2003 from Borussia Dortmund as a replacement for David Seaman, winning the title in his first season when he played every game of Arsenal's unbeaten league campaign. He also won the FA Cup the following season.

Lehmann will be in the Germany squad for Euro 2008 but said he was undecided about what he would do after that.

'I don't know yet. I will play in the European Championships. I would love to play on, but that is my feeling now. Ask me in June after Euro 2008 -- I might have changed my mind. I will see,' he told Sky Sports.

Meanwhile, midfielder Mathieu Flamini is set to sign for Italian giants AC Milan, according to the Serie A club's vice-president.

Adriano Galliani revealed after his team's 2-1 triumph over Inter in Sunday's Milan derby that the Rossoneri are close to sealing a deal for the Frenchman whose contract with the Gunners expires at the end of the season.

Galliani said: 'Flamini will arrive tonight in Milan and will sign a four-year contract.'

The 24-year-old is expected to undergo a medical on Monday.

Wenger had admitted after that he was not 'super-confident' Flamini would still be at Arsenal next season.

Despite the offer of a lucrative new five-year deal - understood to be worth around £55,000-a-week -  from the Gunners, his future looks to be on the continent.

It is understood Flamini said his goodbyes to some staff as he left the car park after today's match at the Emirates Stadium.

'Frankly, I don't know,' said the Arsenal manager when asked about Flamini's future. "

'But if you ask me was I overall super-confident, I would say no.

'He has an offer on the table which is valid until tomorrow, then we will see.

'I am not confident, but also not worried. The situation is not in my hands.

'We have done what we had to do, it is now down to him to make a decision.'

Wenger called for the matter to be resolved expediently one way or another.

'At some stage you have to make a decision and if he goes we have to look at our options,' said the Arsenal boss.

'We can't wait until July. You could lose players if they come on the market.

'My ideal solution is that he stays, so I am not happy if he goes - but we've done everything we can.'