ARSENE WENGER admitted he is "disappointed" by Mathieu Flamini's decision to leave the Emirates for the riches on offer in Milan.

The 24-year-old reportedly turned down an offer worth in the region of £55,000 a week from Arsenal in favour of a more lucrative deal with AC Milan.

And Wenger admitted the club may have misjudged the situation.

"It is a problem the salaries on offer but we did not master this situation with Flamini because when a player is out of contract he can sign where he wants," said Wenger, speaking at a forum for Arsenal's shareholders.

"I must say I am disappointed that he did that - but legally he can do it."

With the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Alexander Hleb also in the balance after recent attempts to prise them out of the Emirates by Real Madrid and Inter Milan respectively, Wenger is left with a battle on his hands. But he insists he will keep the rest of the squad together.

"I hope that 95% of the team, the core of the team, says 'come on, we have only just lost'," he continued.

"Let's come back and show we are winners. That is the real target of the team."

He added: "We were close this year, but we did not win and what I expect from my team is that, if you are a winner, you say 'let's come back next year and win'. "

Wenger also made a thinly veiled criticism at Flamini's attitude after the player's exit yesterday.

"If our players are not capable of doing that and just want to walk out for bigger contracts, for me that would be the biggest disappointment.

"If you are a winner you say 'you beat me now in a game but give me a chance to come back and beat you'. That's what I expect of a team.

"If they cannot do that then it means I was wrong completely in my whole judgement of this team.

"That would be the biggest disappointment for the club - not only to not win this year but to not be capable of coming back together."