Arsenal are preparing themselves for the exit of Mathieu Flamini after making a "generous" contract offer to the France midfielder.

Flamini, 24, can leave the club on a free transfer in the summer and Serie A giants Juventus have made their interest public.

"We have made what we think is a pretty generous offer and we are waiting to hear whether he will accept or not," Gunners chairman Peter Hill-Wood said in the Daily Star. "You just don't know nowadays.

"You think players have a pretty good life but, somehow, someone persuades them the grass might be greener somewhere else.

"So I don't know the answer - all I know is that we think we have pushed the boat out."

Arsenal have the ability to pay players top wages and, despite Hill-Wood's claims, it is understood that money is not the full issue. Flamini joined the club on a free transfer from Marseille in 2004 but, until the current campaign, struggled to establish himself as a first-choice midfielder and was often played out of position at full-back.

But in this final season of his contract Flamini has seen his stock rise after forging a strong partnership with Cesc Fabgregas, relegating vice-captain Gilberto Silva to the substitutes' bench and earning a call-up to the France national team.

And Juve director Jean-Claude Blanc also claimed that the player was a boyhood Bianconeri fan, ruling out a swoop by rivals Milan and going some way to explain his desire to move to Turin.

"We have the advantage [over Milan]," fellow Frenchman Blanc said.

"As a child Flamini was a supporter of Juve.

"We also have a sporting project in place and we will be in the Champions League. Milan will not."

Arsenal lie third in the Premier League after letting an eight-point lead slip, while Juventus occupy the same position in the Italian championship.

Reda Maher / Eurosport