Wenger fears for Gilberto

Enforced leave
The 28-year-old Gilberto has not played since 18 September and with his vertebrae-related problem showing no sign of healing, manager Arsène Wenger has sent him home to Brazil to recuperate.

'Not good news'
"It's not good news on Gilberto," said Wenger. "We had a check on his back and it looked like the bone has not grown and the distance of the fracture is still exactly the same. We have decided to rest him six more weeks and have sent him back to Brazil on holiday.

'Season-threatening'
"He has to rest completely and when he comes back it is not sure he will be capable of playing. We don't think it is [career-threatening] but it is season-threatening. If in the next six weeks, the bone has not completely grown together, we have to give him three months more."

Injury crisis
Arsenal have only two fit central midfielders for Saturday's Premiership game against West Bromwich Albion FC in Patrick Vieira and Cesc Fabregas. Gilberto's compatriot Edu is nursing a broken toe, sidelining him for another three weeks, while Matthieu Flamini is struggling with a knee injury.