Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva is set to join Panathinaikos in a £2 million deal.

The Sun says his representatives are flying off to Athens this morning to begin negotiations and manager Arsene Wenger will not stand in Gilberto's way.

The Arsenal boss had hoped Gilberto would see out the remaining year of his contract to fill the gap left by Mathieu Flamini's departure to AC Milan.

But he knows he cannot offer Gilberto, 31, a new deal and is happy to reward his loyalty after six years at Arsenal.