Manuel Almunia can leave Arsenal if he wants, says Arsène Wenger

Arsène Wenger will allow Manuel Almunia to leave Arsenal if the Spaniard expresses a desire to seek a fresh start elsewhere. The 33-year-old, who has captained the side and began the season as first-choice goalkeeper, has not featured since spraining his elbow in the defeat by West Bromwich Albion in September and has subsequently been sidelined with an ankle complaint. Malaga and Atlético Madrid have expressed an interest in signing Almunia, with Wenger to speak with the veteran before a decision is made on his future. "It will be up to him," said Wenger. "There has been interest from Spain, yes. It's difficult to give a percentage over whether he'll stay or not. It's never easy [to go from captain and first choice to third choice], but that's part of our job." The club have secured their Ivorian utility player Emmanuel Eboué on a new contract to 2014 and expect Aaron Ramsey to return from his loan spell at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. They are willing to listen to loan offers for their Mexico international Carlos Vela, who has made only four Premier League appearances this term. The young Norwegian defender Havard Nordtveit, 20, is to join Borussia Mönchengladbach next week for a nominal fee.