Inamoto - leaving Highbury (Allsport).

By Frank Malley, PA Chief Sports Writer, Yokohama

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Arsenal face worldwide embarrassment after dumping the biggest star of the World Cup so far.

The Gunners have released Japanese midfielder Junichi Inamoto from his contract and will let him leave Highbury on a free transfer at the end of this month.

The double winners, it emerged on Monday, told the 22-year-old Japanese star just before the World Cup began.

Not only will they lose the potential talents of a man they signed from J-League Hiratsuka Bellmare 11 months ago for a reported £4million they will also forfeit the potentially huge shirt sales in the Far East generated by Inamoto's massive profile at this World Cup.

And they are certain to face a backlash from a Japanese public who have fallen in love with their most marketable star.

The man with the peroxide hair and boyish face scored in Japan's 2-2 draw with Belgium and followed that up by scoring the only goal in his nation's first ever World Cup victory on Sunday night, a 1-0 triumph over Russia. He was made man of the match in both games.

His image adorns posters the length and breadth of this nation. He is rarely off television screens and his heroics have been greeted with a frenzied euphoria which Japan usually reserves only for baseball.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was at Sunday night's match in the Yokohama Stadium, working for Japanese television, and he was later linked up with Inamoto in a post-match interview.

There was an obvious air of embarrassment on Inamoto's features as he listened to his Highbury coach extolling the virtues of Japan.

In Monday morning's edition of the Japanese language Sankei Sports newspaper Wenger, in a personal column, was coy about Inamoto's position with Arsenal, couching the star's future in confusion.

"It's not a good time to talk about whether he's leaving Arsenal or staying," wrote Wenger, a former coach of J-League side Nagoya Grampus.

"I haven't decided yet but he's shown that in Europe he can play in any team.

"I'm confident he would play like that in the future. You can't ignore his contribution to the team. Not only has he become a very good player but someone who, like Hidetoshi Nakata, can play under pressure and take responsibility.

"He has learned a lot in Europe and he knew he could be a winner when he played in that first match against Belgium. That confidence reflected in his performance. Last night he was man of the match again."

All the time, however, Wenger was aware that he had decided Inamoto was no longer part of his plans.

Wenger has steadfastly refused to play Inamoto in the Premiership, limiting his first-team appearances to two Worthington Cup ties and 20 minutes in the Champions League.

The shy and reserved Inamoto who speaks little English, looked uncomfortable throughout his interview with Wenger on Sunday night, admitting later: "It was the moment I dreaded most. I was very aware that somebody was watching me from somewhere tonight.

"There is no doubt that we have we have changed history with the first and second matches. But it won't mean a thing if we lose the next."

Japan, who have four points, next play Tunisia but could still be overtaken by Russia and Belgium.

Inamota, with three goals in 32 internationals, had hoped when he moved to Highbury to emulate the success of his compatriot Hidetoshi Nakata who has become a star in Serie A.

His close friend Shinji Ono, also 22, has also made a mark at Dutch side Feyenoord where stories have linked Inamoto in the last month. Atlanta and Perugia in Italy are also said to be interested.

Inamota insisted, however, that he bore no hard feeling towards Wenger despite his year on the sidelines.

"I didn't play for a year but practising with excellent players has helped me greatly improve my skills," he said.

"I haven't shown my skills to the Japanese fans for a year so I am very glad I have been able to do so here."