Welbeck set to leave Arsenal on a free

The former Manchester United man is currently sidelined with a serious ankle injury, having needed two bouts of surgery to correct the problem suffered in a innocuous-looking fall in the Europa League draw against Sporting Lisbon last month.

It is thought that injury has the potential to keep Welbeck out until next season, meaning that he may have already played his last game for the 'Gunners'.

Welbeck joined Arsenal from hometown club United on a five-year deal in 2014, but has seen his time in the capital disrupted by repeated injuries.

Those problems have limited him to just 126 appearances for the club and it appears he will not get the chance to add to that total amid reports he is set to be released at the end of the season alongside midfielder Aaron Ramsey.

That will make it three high-profile players to leave on free transfers in just a year after Jack Wilshere's move to West Ham last summer, whilst the same fate was only avoided with Alexis Sanchez thanks to a January swap deal with Manchester United.

Arsenal's director of football Raul Sanllehi has admitted that Arsenal may be forced into the transfer market in January to find a replacement for Welbeck, with Nicolas Pepe and Patrik Shick both understood to be on their watchlist.

"We need to see. We are in November so it’s a good time to start analysing what options we have in the market. We are not closing the door but it’s still not the preferred one," he explained.

"The plans were made in the summer. We are happy with how things are going. We are always going to strive to be the best team we can be.

"If there is a very good opportunity we are definitely going to consider, we will see. Danny Welbeck’s injury alters, in a way, the views.”

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