Gilberto departure leaves Wenger short on options

ARSENE WENGER has been left with another gap to fill in his depleted midfield following confirmation yesterday that veteran Brazilian Gilberto Silva has joined Greek side Panathinaikos.

The departure of the long-serving 31-year-old World Cup winner came a day after the sale of unsettled Alexander Hleb to Barcelona.

With the combative Mathieu Flamini having also left on a free transfer to AC Milan at the end of last season, Wenger must now rebuild the heartbeat of a team which set the early pace in the Premier League last season before eventually fading out of the title race.