Gunners release quintet

Arsenal have released Iceland international Olafur-Ingi Skulason and four more youngsters who have failed to make the grade at Highbury.

Midfielder Skulason, 22, leaves after four years with the Gunners but few first-team opportunities. He has won two Iceland caps, most recently against Italy four weeks ago.

Also heading for the exit are Adam Birchall, Jordan Fowler, Danny Karbassiyoon and Frankie Simek.

American Karbassiyoon, 21, joined Arsenal as a striker but has been converted to left-back, and he played six games on loan in the Championship for Ipswich in the season just ended.

He scored for Arsenal in their Carling Cup win over Manchester City but could not hold down a place in Arsene Wenger’s match-day squads.

Compatriot Simek had loan spells with QPR and Bournemouth, but the 20-year-old defender was restricted to reserve-team games rather than Premiership football for the Gunners.

Twenty-year-old striker Birchall could not nail down regular reserve team football, but he scored five goals in a 15-game loan spell at League Two Wycombe and earned international recognition with Wales Under-21s.

Fowler had a six-game loan spell with Chesterfield but the 20-year-old midfielder had his season ended prematurely by a knee injury.