Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger knows Gilberto Silva is upset at being left out of his starting line-up.

"Yes I can understand that," he said. "But it's not that you can chat with the guy that he is not disappointed anymore, it's all part of competition.

"Gilberto is an outstanding player - mentally and morally fantastic - but he accepts competition. I think he is a very good centre back but as well it is down to the balance of the team.

"I feel at the moment Flamini is playing extremely well. Diarra and Denilson are doing well too. There is tremendous competition, you cannot stop that, but that doesn't take anything away from what Gilberto does, or has done."