Invisiblewall.net: Gilberto Silva News

Gilberto talked to users of UEFA.com in the chat room; here is the transcript!

vojce: hi gilberto

Iggy: hello guys

colin: hi

Brazil are rubbish at rugby: Have you missed Patrick Viera this season? What did he teach you when you played with him?

Gilberto: We missed him a lot in the beginning of the season. We took a while to assimilate his departure. Nowadays things are doing much better. We wish him luck everywhere he plays. Patrick was a friendly team mate and a true leader. We missed our captain more than the player.

GoonerKing3: what do you think about Arsenals chances of lifting the Champions League trophy in May

Gilberto: We have the same chances as the other 16 teams in this round. Our attitude will determine how far we can go. It’s a bit early to think that much ahead, even though everybody got really excited after yesterday’s result.

Ant: In your opinion who’s the most promising of Arsenals youngsters?

Gilberto: Fabregas is getting better every day, although he still needs more physical power. Diaby is a strong player and a nice touch. They all need more experience and mileage. We shouldn’t put too much pressure on them.

Ron Atkinson for Pope: Do you think you will get in the Brazil squad for the World Cup?

Gilberto: I am confident that I have enough quality to be in the Brazilian squad for the World Cup. I am working hard and I expect to defend my country in Germany.

Wojtekowski: Since you have won biggest prize i.e. the World Cup, is it difficult to be motivated to win again or do you want win again desperatly? Maybe your main aim now is the Champions League since you have won the World Cup?

Gilberto: I want to win every trophy. Once you reach the top, you always want to remain there. If I could choose, I’d be collecting silverware everyday.

Puper: Hi Gilberto! Who do you expect to win tonight in the classic Chelsea-Barcelona clash? Which team woud yu prefer as one of your next opponents?

Gilberto: I will be watching, especially because we might play one of them if we qualify. I think Barcelona might struggle a bit with the pitch and, obviously, they will be playing a very tough team. It will be a nice match, I believe.

ash: How did the atmosphere in the bernabeu compare to highbury?

Gilberto: It was my first time at the Bernabeu. It’s a bit different from Highbury. Supporters in England are a bit more behaved than in Spain. But it was a nice atmosphere. I am sure that the reception in Highbury will be amazing as well, even though our ground is much smaller than the Bernabeu.

Did you know?: Gilberto previously worked as a furniture maker in his homeland.

afc: how have you found english football since you moved here?

Gilberto: I am used to English Football. It was a bit tough when I arrived. Things are changing[/b]: the smaller teams have been improving and, in my opinion, the Premiership is gettin more balanced, with the obivous exception of Chelsea.

Big Chris: How do all the different nationalities understand each other in the Arsenal team? Does the team use translators?

Gilberto: We don’t have translators. If anybody has a problem, the more adapted players are the ones to help.

ash: How different is it playing in the Premiership to the Champions League?

Gilberto: Both competitions should be tackled with the same spirit. Perhaps Arsenal will be playing in Europe with a bigger effort because we have never won the Champions League. Tactically, you’ve got to be more aware, for the opponents tend to be harder and not as well-known as in the Premiership.

Wojtekowski: Does your family live in England and do you miss Brazil at times?

Gilberto: I miss Brazil but since my wife and my daughter moved in things have been much easier. I was already adapted, even to the cold weather, but I lived alone for two years and that was a bit tough.

frenchgunner: I think you have seen that . Your brazilian team mate juninho has scored another fantastic free kick. what do you think of him and would you like to play against him in champions league ?

Gilberto: I am bit biased to speak about a Brazilian team mate, but I think everybody can see how good Juninho is. I’m even a bit surprised no clubs from the bigger leagues haven’t tried harder to poach him from Lyon. As for playing against him, I think it’s not for anybody to choose opponents in the Champions League.

antman: how is theo walcott settling into the squad at highbury?

Gilberto: Walcott is really young and it takes time to settle in. But he’s a talented player and could be one of Arsenal’s big names in a few years time.

colin: Do you think next year arsenal will be back in the top two ?

Gilberto: Arseanl have the potential to bounce back. But we need to bring a more experienced midfielder and it’s really important to see how the Henry situation will unfold. It’s for the sake of the squad.

Awsome Arsenal: Do you think Real Madrid will struggle at Highbury due to the narrow pitch and Reals wide style of play?

Gilberto: Real’s style might create some difficulties for them at Highbury. They won’t have a lot of space to play, let alone the fact we will be at home and with the crowd on our side. It’s a great opportunity for Arsenal.

ImpalaBlunt: What is your favourite food?

Gilberto: Brazilian food. Black bean and pork stew, a classic Brazilian dish.

Big Fella: Are you looking foward to the new stadium and how do you think that will affect our game next season?

Gilberto: Everybody is anxious about the new ground. I am looking forward to seeing more supporters having a chance to watch us play. It’s very important we say a proper goodbye to Higbury, though. We wanted to close this moment with the Premiership, but…

Did you know?: Some great questions. Keep them coming guys! But please try and keep them in English. Thank you.

Did you know?: In 2004/05 the Brazilian featured in Arsenal’s first six Premiership matches but his appearance against Bolton Wanderers FC on 18 September was his last for over six months as a back injury threatened to end his season. He eventually returned in the 4-1 win against Norwich City FC on 2 April, however, and appeared in both the FA Cup semi-final and the final as the north London outfit overcame Manchester United FC on penalties to lift the trophy.

pete: England will beat Brazil if we play you. Do you agree?

Gilberto: I hope England don’t beat us. I am sure the English will be playing with double motivation if they face us. But nobody will win the Cup before the games are played. Neither Brazil, nor England. Just remember France and Argentina in 2002…

Mili BiH gooner: Who is your football idol?

Gilberto: Zico, Baresi and Cerezzo.

Withnail: Do you practice shooting in training?

Gilberto: I try to practice as many different aspects as possible. There is no specific drill. Because I need as many resources as possible im my position.

Did you know?: A latecomer to international football, the combative central midfield player featured in every minute of Brazil’s seven matches at Korea/Japan and it was his ability to subdue opposition midfields in the holding role which allowed his more creative team-mates the freedom to express themselves. However, he was left out of Brazil’s squad for the Copa América in summer 2004.

Jon: What do u think of Spurs’ success this season?

George Jacob: What do you put the countless injuries arsenal players have had last season and this season to? Are the Arenal players not following a proper fitness routing to stay fit?

Gilberto: Injuries happen in football, especially at high level. I don’t think it has anything to do with our fitness routine. It’s more bad luck combined with the natural risk of the job.

Did you know?: Hey guys! Send in your top three memories of Gilberto and we will publish the best three!

Gilberto: About Spurs… I am not happy, for sure. They are going through a good spell, but we will catch them in the end.

Y2G: Memory of Gilberto[/b]: scoring the 1st goal of 4 against PSV 3 years ago in the Champions League

Mauricio: I remember when a late strike by you gave arsenal a 1-1 draw against bolton wanderers!

Jason Lee for fruit president: What is the difference between Henry’s style of captaincy and that of Vieira?

Gilberto: They have different personalities and Patrick had the captaincy for several seasons, while this is Thierry’s first.

ash: Is there a special feeling when you hear the champions league music?

vinnydodgers: Tell me about Cicinho.You have played wiht him and against him,Does he have the potential to become the player that,say,Cafu, has been?Also congratulations from a Manchester United fan, on last nights result.

Gilberto: It’s a nice tune. Gives you chills and creates that Champions League feeling.

Did you know?: Okay guys. Just a few more questions. Here is you chance to send a goodluck message to Gilberto ahead of the second leg against Real Madrid CF!

JaysonG: Memory of Gilberto[/b]: The goal against Liverpool on his Debut in the Community Shield

HighburyHero: Which game for Arsenal has been your favourite and why?

Gilberto: Yesterday’s match is obviously one of them. But I also have fond memories of that PSV game in the 2002/03 season, when I scored my first European goal and the fastest in Champions League history.

tzuik: Good luck Gunners!!!!

dan: Tell me about Cicinho.You have played wiht him and against him,Does he have the potential to become the player that,say,Cafu, has been?Also congratulations from a Manchester United fan, on last nights result.

Gilberto: He’s been playing well even before moving to Madrid. Cicinho has the potential to replace Cafu someday but it won’t be easy, for Cafu has such a huge history in the National Team. Thanks for the congratulations, by the way.

Goose: Pittsburgh Steelers Fan saying goodluck to the Gunners! If we can do it so can you.

Elvin: Again congratulations with great victory on real madrid..

Gilberto: Thanks for the questions, lads. Keep on supporting Arsenal!

HighburyHero: Good Luck for the rest of the season Gilberto, lets hope we have all of our players back to full fitness soon. Good luck for the rest of the Champions League campaign and also for getting into that important fourth place in the Premiership.

schmee: Good job Gilberto, from a Madrid fan, you were impressive, are you excited for this years world cup

ralle: you are the best man in Arsenal

RomanianGunnar: No one can beat us on highbury.Go gunners go

–End of Chat–

Taken from http://www.uefa.com/competitions/UCL/news/Kind=1/newsId=396958.html

Arsenal’s Gilberto to reveal all
Wednesday, 22 February 2006

Ever wondered what it feels like to beat Real Madrid CF at the Santiago Bernabéu in the UEFA Champions League? Or how about collecting a FIFA World Cup winners’ medal? You will have the chance to find out and ask lots more besides when Arsenal FC’s Brazilian international midfield player Gilberto joins uefa.com users in a live Talk Football chat from 17.00CET today.

World Cup winner
The 28-year-old – who played every minute of Brazil’s 2002 successful campaign in Korea/Japan – will be answering your questions about playing for Arsenal, and other UEFA Champions League-related topics following his side’s impressive 1-0 victory over Real last night. Gilberto, now in his fourth English campaign, spent seven months out with a back injury last season, but returned in time to collect an FA Cup winners’ medal with Arsenal in May 2005. Is he dreaming of adding the UEFA Champions League to his already-impressive collection this May?

To find out more about Gilberto, on and off the pitch, join uefa.com for the Talk Football chat in association with Mastercard.

©uefa.com 1998-2006. All rights reserved.

You’ll find the transcript here in case you miss it!

Gilberto helps Arsenal to shock win in Madrid!

Gilberto had a return to form last night – when ARSENAL beat REAL MADRID 1-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Gilberto was fantastic – as were all of the Arsenal players.

This performance shows that it truly takes the whole team to play well for Gilberto to be able to do his job properly. Arsenal didn’t rely on Gilberto to feed the attack, they didn’t rely on him to tackle high up the pitch, or do crosses. They just let him sit deep in defence (so deep that he was unnoticable for the first 25 minutes), and deal with the deadly threat of Madrid quietly. And how he did.

Arsenal fans on Gilberto last night:

Brilliant performance. My man of the match was Gilberto Silva – kept Zidane quiet all game.

Gilberto has done his job immensely.. Suits his style, he can do his job without being pressured or roughing it up.

Gilberto has been immense defensively.

Gilberto done his job immensely, best performance of the season.

Gilberto – Didn’t hear his name, that means he didn’t fuck up.

Well done Gilberto… keep up the good form.

In a cheeky turn of the tables, Gilberto sent a message out to David Beckham saying he would be welcome at Arsenal.

“Of course, we want to play with the best players in the world and Beckham would be very, very welcome if he joined us.

“And, yes, all those crosses for Thierry… it would be all right. It would be great!

“But you never know what can happen in football – in the next year, or the future, you need to wait.

“If he returned he would be successful because he’s a great player.

“It would be fantastic for England, for the Premiership and especially for the fans because I think they’ve missed him.

Makes a change from Madrid players baiting Arsenal players to Real…. but I don’t see it happening somehow.

Gilberto’s rocky form continues

Image copyright to BBC

Gilberto’s rocky form continued against Liverpool on Tuesday.

Arsenal lost the game 1-0 from a last minute goal. It seems Arsenal are a last-minute team, but so far this season, Gilberto has usually been the scorer of last minute goals, not a conceder.

Gilberto, again, was criticised by many Arsenal fans for his poor performance in the game. I didn’t see the game, but from what I hear, he played like you’d expect Gilberto to play. Dodgy passes, weak tackles, the usual.

Do you expect Gilberto to be hard tackling? Do you expect Gilberto to set up goals? Do you expect Gilberto to drive the whole team forward? If your answer to any of those questions is ‘yes’, then you have come to expect the wrong thing from a quiet defensive midfielder.

Since the beginning of the season, Arsenal fans have EXPECTED Gilberto to simply step into boots of Patrick Vieira. Expecting this to happen would be like expecting Arturo Lupoli to step into Thierry Henry’s boots. They are two different players, on two different levels.

Gilberto’s ‘failure’ to be Arsenal’s next driving midfielder isn’t a failure. It is just asking too much.

Gilberto’s job is to sit in front of a defence and to break up attacks before they happen. He will be ever-present in defending set pieces. He will be what he is: an invisible wall. So far this season, he has done what he has done in past seasons. The only difference this year is that the team is under performing, yet Gilberto continues to do what he has always done.

He can not start doing the Vieira role of tackling players high up the pitch. He can’t do the Edu role of setting up strikers for goals. He can’t do any role but his own.

If Arsenal’s strikers can’t score, how is it the fault of the defensive midfielder? If the whole defence is injured, is Mr Gilberto to blame?

The answer is yes. Gilberto is to be blamed – but not entirely. He is as much to blame as the 10 other Arsenal players on the pitch. He should not be blamed for not being Vieira.

The whole team need to step up and start scoring and defending as a team like they used to.

Gilberto will play against Real Madrid on Tuesday the 21st of February. No doubt he will get criticised for having a dodgy game – but as Arsene Wenger will tell you, if he is quiet, he is doing what the team need of him. However, if Gilberto is dragged out of position, if Arsenal need him to be hard tackling, they will again be disappointed.

Gilberto says Arsenal have chance to win Champions League

Here is what Gilberto said in an official press conference yesterday evening:

“We can still make it a great season. People don’t talk too much about Arsenal and this is good because you can do your job in peace.

“On the pitch you can do your best and try to win the game. Anything can happen in football.

“Liverpool last year didn’t do very well in the championship but in Champions League they won. It’s a similar kind of situation.

“You can see all the time in football that if you are prepared you can do something special.

“Now it can change for us. We are fighting for a better position in the championship and we have another Champions League game in front of us and we can make everything different.

“We want to get something there but we will not be going for a draw. We will be playing to win the game. If it does not happen, then a point would be welcome for us.

“If we go to Madrid and stay in our own half for 90 minutes they will kill us.

“We need to be intelligent to play against them. If you go there desperate to play, in 10 minutes they kill you.

“In the last couple of games I’ve been watching to see how they play and in the last couple of weeks they’ve been struggling.

“We’ve got our confidence back, especially in the last week because we did very well against Birmingham and in the second half against Bolton.

“If we keep playing the same way we have a good chance to get a good result against Real Madrid.

“It’s been hard for us since Patrick’s departure but I think we’ve talked a little too much about that and lost a little bit of our focus.

“After that we had a lot of injuries and a lot of young players have come in but it’s just a transition – nothing more than that.

“The biggest problem has been in the injuries. This has made it very difficult for the manager because who is he going to play for the next game?

“In the last couple of games we’ve had no left-back, no right-back and it’s hard, but the players have done very well.

The Arsenal.com page about the conference

Gilberto is always very opinionated about bad refereeing – however, in the Bolton game, he thought the referee did all right. Here’s what he told TEAMtalk.

“We have to stay determined now and continue to play the same way, when you come into the games we have to show what we want to do.

“We have shown a high spirit and solidarity with each other against Bolton, that makes the team strong, especially mentally.

“If you are strong mentally, you can help your team-mates focus. Sometimes things do not work out as you plan, but if you are strong mentally, you can push yourself more.

“We put them under pressure in the second half and had chances to score, but it was very difficult for us.

“When you see the goalkeeper making so many saves, you think it is not going to be your day.

“However, we knew we had the quality to overturn the situation.

“Tuesday will be very important now for us, because we are both fighting for that [Champions League] position.

“Liverpool are in front of us and we want to get the points there. That would make a big difference for us.

“It was a bad tackle, with two feet, but you need to respect the decision of the referee. Generally he did very well.

So there you go.

Another goal from Gilberto on Tuesday? Hope so.

Gilberto grabs last minute goal for Arsenal!

Gilberto scored for Arsenal in the 94th minute to grab Arsenal a 1-1 draw against Bolton.

Gilberto also picked up a yellow card in the game, and had two other shots which went wide.

It looked as though time had run out for Arsenal – but Gilberto volleyed Fabregas’s cross straight past the Bolton keeper.

Well done Gilberto!

Wenger said this in an interview yesterday:

“Sol Campbell won’t play. I don’t think Gilbert will be ready either, [Kerrea Gilbert, not Gilberto Silva] so there is not a lot to choose from. We don’t have any defenders coming back and the Ivory Coast play on Saturday. I don’t know what I’ll do about it at the moment, I must think. Do I put Gilberto there or keep Flamini at the back? I don’t know.”

This could be interesting. Gilberto started his career at centre back for America MG – and he has only played there once or twice for Arsenal.

At centre back or centre midfield – it looks like Gilberto will definitely playing.