Adams failed to turn up for pre-season training yesterday - the first time this has happened in his career (when he's been fit).

And the Standard quotes a friend of Tone's as saying that he Adams told him last week thet he "will never kick a ball again".

With Keown (allegedly) staying and Cygan (allegedly) signing, it does seem highly plausible that Arsenal have given up trying to persuade Adams to stay another year. Neither the Keown nor the Cygan story has been confirmeed by Arsenal, by the way.

The Standard also reckon that Adams will take a year away from football, rather than go for any of the managerial posts he's being linked with.

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