Gilberto: No rift with boss Wenger

LONDON, England -- Brazil international Gilberto Silva has denied reports claiming that he has fallen out with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The midfielder, who was overlooked for the English club's captaincy at the start of this season, has not started a Premier League or Champions League match since the victory against London rivals Tottenham in mid-September.

The 31-year-old, who had previously been a regular in central midfield following his move from Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro in 2002, has had to watch as Mathieu Flamini has established himself in the starting line-up.

Some reports claimed that he had refused to play in Wednesday's League Cup win at Sheffield United -- although he did in fact play the whole 90 minutes.

However, Gilberto -- who has been linked with a move to Italian club Juventus in January -- was used only as an 80th-minute substitute in Saturday's 2-2 draw with Manchester United.

But he told Britain's Observer newspaper: "It was strange, this thing that I had a fight with Arsene.

"I never did that. We have a mutual respect for each other and although I'm not happy to be on the bench, and he and everyone knows that, I always respect his decision about what he thinks is best for the team.

"I'm being very professional, so I don't understand how these things come out when we don't have any problem. I'm not the kind of person who would refuse to play."

Gilberto, who helped Brazil win the Copa America in July, will be out of contract in 18 months but will not make a decision on his future until next summer.

"We'll see at the end of the season what's going to happen," he said. "But now I just play football and don't think about what comes from outside." E-mail to a friend