Wenger's Brazil blast

The World Cup winners head out to the Far East to face China on February 12, and it could severely disrupt Wenger's plans.

Gilberto has been a mainstay if the Gunners' midfield alongside Patrick Vieira this season but he could miss the FA Cup fifth round, should Arsenal beat Farnborough in the fourth round, three days after the friendly.

With the hefty trip to the China also coming between the Premiership clash at Newcastle and Champions League tussle with Ajax, Gilberto may not be able to figure in all of those games through jet-lag or fatigue.

The Samba stars had promised the Chinese that they would field a full-strength team, and will keep to their word in order to secure their appearance fee, meaning that Wenger's midfielder will probably be included in the squad.

Wenger has blasted the trip as pointless, as he did in his opposition to his French stars' trip to Australia, and is hoping to hang on to his player.

"We will have to see whether we can keep him here as it's nonsense for Brazil to be playing in China in February," blasted the Frenchman.