Gilberto 'sad' to leave Gunners

Former Arsenal stalwart Gilberto has revealed he is "sad" to have left the club in search of regular first-team football at Panathinaikos.

The Brazilian World Cup winner - part of the Invincibles side of 2003-04 - followed combative Mathieu Flamini and unsettled winger Alexander Hleb out of Emirates Stadium this summer.

Gilberto, 31, revealed manager Arsene Wenger had wanted him to stay at the club for a seventh season.

However, the midfielder maintains he felt it was the right time for a new challenge.

"I feel a bit sad, you know. I like many, many people at Arsenal and it has been fantastic this last six years at the club," Gilberto told Arsenal TV Online.

"The good thing between us, me and Arsene, is that we have been clear in our conversated to play, which is normal because in the season before I played a big part.

"He told me in case I decide to leave he wouldn't stop me. It was my decision, he wanted me to stay, but at the end I didn't know, to be honest, if I would have a chance to play.

"Then I had this opportunity at Panathinaikos and I felt it was a great one in terms of playing games and a contract.

"I have three years there, when I only had one year left at Arsenal. I considered all these things to get this opportunity.

"It is fantastic because even though I haven't played much this year, at this stage [of my career] I have this opportunity to play in another club.

"It means over the years I have done the job well and people still believe in me."

While youngsters Aaron Ramsey, the Wales Under-21 international, and Samir Nasri have arrived this summer, Wenger is looking to add an experienced head before the transfer window closes next month.

However, the Arsenal manager would not go into specific targets, with wantaway England international Gareth Barry - booed by Aston Villa fans in their friendly at Walsall - said to be on his wishlist, although rated around £18million, which could prove too high a price tag for the Gunners.

"We will need one more body in there," said Wenger, after his side's 1-1 draw with Hungarian side Szombathelyi Haladas.

"If we find a reasonable target then we will do it - but there is no special name on the list.

"We have some time. We have until August 31.

Arsenal will play a Burgenland XI in Ritzing, Austria on Monday night before meeting Stuttgart on July 30 - which could see veteran German keeper Jens Lehmann face his old club.

Wenger insisted it was business as usual concerning Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who has so far sent out mixed messages over his future amid suggestions of a lucrative move away from Emirates Stadium.

He said: "We prepare as a team and we focus on preparing well. Adebayor is like everybody else."