Arsenal: Gilberto is a pro

Reports had circulated of a bust up between Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger and Gilberto, but Wenger has rejected such claims and insists that Gilberto is a professional. The Brazilian skipper has seen himself only a bit-part player this season as Mathieu Flamini and Cesc Fabregas have forged a formidable partnership.

Wenger, however, has denied a bust-up with the 2002 World Cup winner.

"I deny that categorically," he told Arsenal TV Online. "I find this assessment disrespectful to a great professional like Gilberto. He is 100 percent professional and is in the squad for tomorrow. He will play."

Wenger continued: "I believe that as a manager and as a player you always have one thing in your mind and that is what is good for the club and the team and I cannot fault Gilberto on that since he arrived here.

"Recently he has played less, but his mentality has been superb.

"It is important to win every single competition and in this one I use younger players because traditionally it has always been like that and it has helped us a lot to develop the players."