Adams, 35, has not announced his retirement but was missing from the Gunners' pre-season tour in Austria and has received offers to move into management.

But the former England captain but has been advised by Wenger to take a break before committing himself.

Wenger said he is looking to Sol Campbell, who joined from London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at the start of last season, to help fill the void left by Adams.

"Tony is no longer an Arsenal player. The season starts in two weeks and if he was going to carry on he would have been with us in Austria.

"I do not think he will play any more but he needs to take time to review his situation and decide what he wants to do.

"He will decide his own future but I am not worried for him. I know that he will have a great future.

"But I think he needs some time to take a breather from football.

"I think he was tapped for some management jobs over the summer but I wonder whether he really wants to do it.

"I'm certain that he will at some stage but I have a doubt that he will do it now.

"He has said he wants to go away and study sports science and then come back into football. And I think it would be a good idea for him to take a break from football.

"The best way to be faithful to Tony is to carry on being successful. It has been strange without him in the camp.

"I would like to have had him around but you have to look forward and I am very positive because this group looks focused and ambitious.

"He was a natural leader because of his stature and his experience. Now we want to try to have 20 leaders in the group," Wenger added.

Adams won 66 caps for England and made his debut for Arsenal in the 1983-84 season.

He helped the club win four Premiership titles in 1989, 1991, 1998 and 2002 and FA Cup wins in 1998 and 2002 to complete domestic Doubles.