Nicklas Bendtner is set for a fresh start away from Arsenal as the Denmark striker closes in on a £9million move to Sporting Lisbon.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger last week revealed the 23-year-old had been given permission to miss the friendly against Cologne and training camp in Germany "to sort out his future".
Bendtner, pushed further down the pecking order following the £11million arrival of Ivory Coast forward Gervinho, was photographed in Portugal and is expected to push through the formalities of his move over the weekend.
Two other Arsenal players who look set to miss the Emirates Cup - which will see former Gunners striker Thierry Henry return to the club with New York Red Bulls - are captain Cesc Fabregas and England winger Theo Walcott who is injured.
Fabregas, who remains the subject of a £30million transfer bid by Barcelona, has not featured at all during pre-season, training with the youth squad this week as he works on a hamstring injury, which, officially at least, has been the reason for his extended absence.
With Bendtner's departure set to follow that of long-serving defender Gael Clichy, Wenger is likely to quickly reinvest those transfer funds, which could be boosted by a further £4million should Emmanuel Eboue join Galatasaray.
Valencia's Juan Mata has long been on the Arsenal manager's radar, and his £15million signature would go some way to offsetting the impending departure of Fabregas, as well as guarding against the uncertain future of contract rebel Samir Nasri.
But Valencia claim they do not intend to sell and say the player is happy at Mestalla.
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