Arsene's selection headache

Arsenal has expressed his sympathy for Lassana Diarra and Gilberto Silva, two players among his star-studded squad who are unable to make the first team due to the immense form of the Gunners this season.

"In our job there is always competition. It's not because you don't select a player that you don't respect him,” explained Wenger, whose side take on newly promoted Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

"For example Gilberto doesn't play at the moment. I have a huge respect for Gilberto, for the man and the player.

"But at the end of the day you can only select 11 players to start a football game, and it's part of our job to deal with that as well. You feel sorry but you have as well to be realistic.

"I have 23 difficult decisions because all my squad I can play - Diarra for Flamini, or Gilberto or Denilson. They are all top-level players and every decision is difficult to make, but I consider how the team goes at the moment and how they will play."

Giving an update on the fitness front, the Frenchman revealed: "Jens Lehmann and William Gallas are already back in full training. Tomas Rosicky and Alex Song should be back on Saturday. Eduardo should be back on Tuesday."