Arsenal stars: We're 'Gunner' leave

Arsenal will face a sensational exodus of stars if they fail to qualify for the lucrative Champions League this season.

The key trio of Robin van Persie, Emmanuel Adebayor and Cesc Fabregas have all hinted that they may leave the north London club should a spot in Europe's elite competition not be secured at the end of the current Premier League campaign.

According to a report in Sunday's News of the World tabloid, the three Gunners are becoming increasingly frustrated at Arsenal's trophy drought as well as the club's lack of ambition.

"There is a real problem developing because the big names are bemused at the way things are going," a source close to the heart of Arsenal told the British publication.

"If Arsenal finish outside the top four, there's no way the likes of Van Persie, Adebayor and Fabregas will hang around.

"They love playing for Arsene Wenger but they also want to win things.

"And, as things stand, they can't see that happening. It's not about how much money they can earn, it's about winning trophies for these guys.

"They want to see some ambition and they want to see the club buying the right kind of players.

"Andrey Arshavin is obviously a good player but many of the squad thought Arsene should have bought a strong midfielder and a centre-half, not just another neat and tidy ball player because there's already plenty of them."

After Saturday's games in the Premier League, Arsenal find themselves fifth in the table, six points behind fourth placed Chelsea and a further two points adrift of Martin O'Neill's in-form Aston Villa.
The Gunners do, however, have a chance to close the gap on Sunday when they make the short trip across north London to play arch rivals Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane.

ESS