Invisiblewall.net: Gilberto Silva News

Gilberto Captains Arsenal against Man United

Gilberto was starting captain against Man United, since Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell and Dennis Bergkamp were all being rested.

He had an excellent game, and even though Arsenal lost the game 2-0, Gilberto led the Arsenal players in strength and style.

In what has been a mixed season for Arsenal and Gilberto, the last few games have been a high point in Gilberto’s career. He has reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, captained Arsenal several times, and enjoyed a great run of form.

Pictures / videos of Gilberto leading out Arsenal at Old Trafford are coming soon.

Arsenal are through to the UEFA Champions League Semi Final!

It will be Gilberto’s first Champions League Semi Final – a step towards winning the only major football trophy which he has not yet won.

Different people rated Gilberto’s game differently.

Ranging from a 5 rating from the BBC:

Could have settled the tie in the first half but produced a poor finish and a disappointing header.

A 6 rating from an Arsenal fan:

Gilberto was soft again, especially in the first half. He was much better second.

And a 7 rating from The Sun:

Gilberto was SO important in shielding the Arsenal back four.

It sort of goes to show that Gilberto’s game is very open to interpretation.

How do you define if Gilberto has a good game?

Some people look for attacking play to rate a player, some look for passing, some look for effort, and some people look for hair do’s.

Gilberto should be rated by his leadership, work rate, and tackling.

The BBC criticized him for missing his shots – that’s a crazy thing to judge Gilberto by. It’s like slating Reyes for not making a tackle. Tackle isn’t Reyes’s job, just as scoring isn’t Gilberto’s.

The truth be told, Gilberto had a great game last night. He was instrumental in breaking up all of the Juventus attacks. Juventus especially liked to attack down the middle, and most times, Gilberto was there to stop Nedved and Ibrahimovic getting through.

Gilberto has already warned Arsenal not to get complacent for the semi final:

Gilberto has warned his side that knocking out Juventus and Real Madrid will not be enough in the Champions League this season. Even as he talked in the tunnel of the Stadio delle Alpi on Wednesday night, the Brazilian argued this was no time to relax.

“I am very happy — for ourselves, the team and the Club,” said the World Cup winner. “These are important moments for everybody but it is not enough. This is a competition we really want to win.

“This is one step more we have walked tonight but we still have a lot more to do in the Champions League this year.

“This is not the time to relax. We need to look forward and be concentrated to achieve something more.”

In the past, Gilberto has cheerfully admitted he was the ‘father’ of the midfield. Certainly he is surrounded by a gaggle of talented young players. He admits to taking a guiding role.

“Yes, it is quite usual,” he said. “These young lads are looking forward to something more, something special. They work together and they don’t care about who they play. They just want to enjoy and play their football.

“Our part as experienced players is just to manage them, talk to them during the game so they keep their position. But, as for the rest, they have shown fantastic personality in this competition.”

Taken from http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=377290&cpid=703

Well done Gilberto, help Arsenal to the final!

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Go Bert!

Taken from http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2002390000-2006150389,00.html

GILBERTO SILVA insists Arsenal will not bottle it against Juventus in tomorrow’s Champions League showdown.

The Brazilian midfielder believes Arsene Wenger’s kids have proved they are no longer a soft touch as they head to Turin for the second leg of their quarter-final against the Serie A leaders.

Gilberto, 29, said: “People say Juve might get physical and try to bully us but Arsenal have already proved that we don’t bottle away from challenges against angry faces.

“We can play hard if it’s necessary — and we will, while trying to impose the quality of our game.”

The World Cup winner admits he was depressed by Arsenal’s disappointing campaign until their victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 — and last week’s stunning 2-0 first-leg win over Juve.

Gilberto, who joined Arsenal in 2002, added: “Football is a box full of surprises as we say in Brazil.

“A few weeks ago I was really upset with what seemed to be Arsenal’s worst season since I arrived at Highbury.

“It was very hard not to feel down. But now, just a few weeks later, we are really close to the Champions League semi-finals.”

Taken from http://tinyurl.com/er77l

Should it emerge Fabregas is not eventually passed fit for the second leg, Arsenal midfielder Gilberto is in no doubt 19-year-old Diaby would make a more-than-able replacement.

The Brazilian World Cup winner insisted: “Abou is a very talented player.

“We need to develop him, because he is young and these things take time.

“Any time he gets a chance in the team, it will give him great experience and he will become a stronger, better player.

“If Cesc does not play on Wednesday, Abou is a good player who can do a good job.”

It looks like Fabregas WILL be fit to play alongside Arsenal – but it’s good to know that Diaby can deputise if needed.

From http://www.noticias.info/asp/aspComunicados.asp?nid=162567&src=0#

Gilberto heartened by belated return to form

Gilberto had the distinction of captaining an Arsenal side at their fluent, ruthless best on Saturday.

The Brazilian took the skipper’s armband after Thierry Henry was substituted in the second half, but his delight at a thumping win over Aston Villa was tempered with frustration that it’s taken Arsenal so long to find their best form this season.

In the past month, Arsenal’s football has echoed the grace and style of the 2003/04 ‘Invincibles’. If they’d scaled those heights earlier in the campaign, the title may still be a realistic target. Instead, it’s much too late to catch Chelsea.

“It’s quite frustrating because when we started the season we were making plans to play our best and fight for the title but now we have no chance, it is too far from us,” said Gilberto.

“The only thing is to fight for the fourth place now. It’s not what we planned at the beginning, and of course I feel upset because we just found our best performances at the end.”

There has been much talk of Arsenal as a team in ‘transition’, but recent evidence suggests that Arsène Wenger’s new generation are well worth the wait. As Gilberto points out, the tough times of the past six months will hold the youngsters in good stead.

“I think we will learn a lesson from this season because it has been hard for us,” he said.

“We have struggled with some results and lots of players have got injured. Others have joined the team and they needed time to settle, they needed time to grow, but now you can see the difference, they play much better now.

“It was completely different at the beginning of the season. We struggled with a couple of results and the team wasn’t as comfortable, but you can see the difference on the pitch now.

“Everyone wants the ball, everyone wants to play and when we don’t have the ball everyone works hard to get it back.”

From the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/a/arsenal/4870508.stm

Gilberto pleads for Henry to stay

Gilberto Silva has urged Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry to commit his future to the north London club.

And the Brazilian believes if the Gunners triumph in the Champions League it may ward off the 28-year-old striker’s admirers at Barcelona.

Gilberto said: “It would be nice to see Thierry stay here forever. He has seen the progress the team is making and has seen us growing together.

“If we won the Champions League, I’m sure it would work in our favour.”

The Gunners go into the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final with Juventus on Wednesday with a two-goal advantage.

Speculation over Henry’s future has been intense for weeks and, even though his contract does not run out until next summer, he will make a decision on his future before the World Cup.

Gilberto hopes the development of Arsene Wenger’s young Arsenal team will persuade the French star to resist the lure of the Nou Camp.

He added: “Even off the pitch, the atmosphere at Arsenal is like a family. These are things that you have to think about.

“He likes the club, the fans love him and he is very friendly with all the other players.

“But we all appreciate it is a very difficult decision for Thierry.”

Gilberto is very much a senior member of the Arsenal team now. He was one of only two outfield players over the age of 23 to finish the Villa game.

When Gilberto speaks, it carries weight – let’s hope Thierry listens!

Gilberto captain in 5-0 win

In the Arsenal vs. Aston Villa match, Thierry Henry went off after 60 minutes and handed Gilberto the captains armband in what turned out to be a 5-0 thrashing. Thierry Henry scored twice, Diaby, Van Persie and Adebayor scored one a piece.

Gilberto had a stunning game. With his first touch of the game, he passed the ball off the field – but after that, he was magnificent. He was leading from the heart of the team, sweeping up after a woeful Aston Villa.

Well played Bert, we have every confidence that you can lead Arsenal to the semi-finals on Tuesday!