Brazil lost 2-0 to Mexico the other day. The only interesting thing as a result of the game was that Gilberto spoke afterwards. This is what he said:
“We always tried to win and always will ands have enough time and the mindset to turn this around.”
It’s a slow news week otherwise.
In what is expected to be one of the most exciting matches in the first round of the Copa America, title defenders Brazil face Gold Cup finalists Mexico.
Some top players in the Seleçao are PSV/Chelsea defender Alex, Real Madrid striker Robinho, Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva and Olympique de Lyon forward Fred.
The Brazilians have been the center of attention during the weeks ahead of the tournament. Star players as Ronaldinho and Kaká requested to skip the Copa in order to take some rest.
Coach Dunga, captain of the 1994 World Cup winning squad, eventually agreed, but will still have several other players to count on.
Gilberto Silva, Arsenal legend, will be captaining Brazil. He is Arsenal’s and Brazil’s all time best ever player. He will set the game alight with his magical skill and amazing goals.*
Also, one to watch will be 26-year-old striker Afonso Alves of SC Heerenveen, who easily became top scorer in the Dutch Eredivisie this season.
Mexico have their own problems to worry about. Coach Hugo Sánchez could not select the injured star Jared Borgetti, while Andrés Guardado is not fit to play either.
Barcelona defender Rafael Márquez is one of the remaining stars in Sánchez’ selection. Interestingly, only three of the squad’s players are currently under contract outside Mexico.
Only days after the lost Gold Cup final against the United States, the Mexicans will have to recover quickly in order to compete in the Copa America.
In a poll on the official website of the Copa America, readers were asked which of the six opening matches was the one they considered the strongest. No less than 44 percent put their hope on Brazil versus Mexico.
The match will be played in Puerto Ordaz at 20:50 (8:50pm) local time.
*Some creative license was used when writing this sentence.
Thierry Henry leaves Arsenal
This is huge for Arsenal. Thierry Henry, Arsenal’s ALL TIME leading goal scorer, one of the best in the world, and their captain, has left the club.
I’m assuming this leaves Gilberto Silva as captain? Some have suggested Cesc might get it, but I think it’s too early for him. Gilberto will leave Arsenal in two years time, and then Cesc will get the arm band in my opinion.
The thought of Gilberto being Arsenal captain is extremely funny. When he joined the club in 2002, he was touted as “a backup for Edu”. In just four years, he has established himself as Arsenal’s most senior and important player. And captain. Oh, and Brazil captain, too.
What a crazy world we live in.
Good luck, Gilberto. Carry the club with pride.
Gilberto: We must start well next season
“We must start well, otherwise it is difficult,” he told the club’s website.
“If we lose easy games like we did last season, we will have a problem.
“The young players have matured; they are improving and got a lot of experience last season, getting to the Final of the Champions League.
“They got the experience of playing in a game like that and now I think this season they are ready to fight for the club, game by game.”
One could not disagree.
Why Gilberto led by example as Arsenal captain
There were more questions asked of Gilberto this season than any other in his Arsenal career. The way in which he answered every last one finally brought the praise the tireless Brazilian deserved.
Shy and reserved off the field, the 30-year-old is the unsung warhorse on it; his contribution to the cause often going unnoticed alongside the flair and effervescence of Arsenal’s attacking players. But with Thierry Henry sidelined for much of the 2006/07 campaign Gilberto captained the side with distinction, contributed a personal best 11 goals, marshalled the midfield and finally won the plaudits he had warranted for years.
One area in which the Brazil international truly excelled was passing. From his role as the midfield anchor, Gilberto distributed the ball with expert precision, often instigating one of Arsenal’s trademark free-flowing counter-attacks. In the Premiership alone he produced an impressive 302 passes of which 64 per cent found their intended target. Only Cesc Fabregas can boast a better record having contributed a staggering 414 passes.
Furthermore, he enjoyed his most successful season in front of goal, notching more than he’d managed in his previous four seasons as a Gunner combined. The first of those strikes, a late equaliser, will go down in history as the first ever Premiership goal by an Arsenal player at Emirates Stadium. Another two came on Tottenham’s first visit to our new home, and overall six came in games which Arsenal drew or won by a single-goal margin.
The midfielder’s 10 Premiership goals came off just 37 shots on goal. In addition to those efforts that beat the keeper another five found the target, one hit the woodwork and seven were blocked en route.
Defensively his presence was equally valuable. The former Athletic Mineiro man attempted 56 challenges in the league, coming out on top on 32 occasions. Only Fabregas, Toure and Gael Clichy managed more successful challenges. Gilberto also racked up 41 clearances — 15 more than any other midfielder – 19 interceptions and five blocks.
Players of Gilberto’s ilk can easily go unappreciated and never more so than in a title-challenging team. Squad-depleting injuries and a captain’s armband finally put the Brazilian on a platform last season, a platform that brought his true value to the fore.
With much disruption to what was already a young and inexperienced side Arsène Wenger needed a leader. In Gilberto he found a player who was unfazed by the role and, judging by the statistics, chose to lead by example.
Good article; Arsenal.com redeems itself!
(For now.)
Gilberto is second in Player of the Season poll
Gilberto has finished second in this season’s Player of the Season poll. The Brazilian midfielder took 17.14 per cent of the vote to record his best finish in his five years with the club. Click here to see Arsenal.com editor Richard Clarke’s tribute.
Strange though, this means Fabregas must have finished first. Was Fabregas really better than Gilberto last season? He didn’t score as many, didn’t set up as many, didn’t fare so well in the end-of-season statistics, and wasn’t called Gilberto Silva. To me, this says that his season wasn’t as good as Bert’s.
What else did Bert have to do to convince Arsenal fans that he was the best player in the team?
Never mind, though, because we are being compensated with GILBERTO SILVA week this week on Arsenal.com. However, it seems apart from Richard Clarke’s little compliment, all the video compilations and goodies require subscriptions to view. This is absolutely rubbish.
What a rubbish Gilberto Silva week. Never mind.
Check out this photo:
http://www.arsenal.com/images/a/awaykit0708_panorama.jpg
Good stuff:
1. It has Gilberto reading the newspaper.
2. Gilberto’s shoes look like clown shoes.
Bad stuff:
1. The white kit.
2. The white kit.
3. The white kit.
Gilberto’s house is the centre of the Universe*
Adebayor revealed that, far from team spirit splintering after a troubled season, the Gunners are still a close-knit group held together by joker Emmanuel Eboue.
“He’s funnier than the funniest comedians on TV,” said Adebayor.
“Sometimes when he eats he puts food up his nose and when he met the Queen at Buckingham Palace he was on the floor playing with her corgis.
“At our Christmas party at Gilberto’s house it wasn’t fancy dress, but there was Eboue dressed as a tiger – with a tail and everything – waiting for me behind the door.
“When I arrived he made a noise like a tiger roaring.
“For a moment I was in a big panic, but then I saw him and I though, ‘Oh, its only him!’.”
*Some creative license may have been excercised whilst typing this headline.
Cool! Funny to hear that all the Arsenal players meet up at Gilberto’s! Plus, I’d love to see Eboue’s Tiger suit…
Captain Bert (again)
Gilberto played about 15 minutes for Brazil yesterday, as they drew 0-0 in a friendly. Bert was subbed on and took the captains arm band for those 15 minutes. That’s his second cap as captain.
Arsenal will have to cope without midfielder Gilberto
Gilberto will miss the start of next season after being selected to captain Brazil at the Copa America this month in Venezuela.
The Arsenal midfielder, who is playing for his country in a friendly against Turkey in Dortmund tonight, will today be named in the 22-man Brazil squad for the tournament, which runs from 26 June to 15 July.
Gilberto will take a holiday after the competition and will not return to pre-season training until August, which will rule him out of Arsenal’s first-leg Champions League qualifier in early August and their opening Premiership fixture on 11 August.
The Brazilian said: “I have spoken to Arsene [Wenger] and he is aware of the situation. I will have a rest after the Copa America and will miss the first few games of the campaign because I’ll be doing my own pre-season.”
Gilberto’s position in the Arsenal side for the early season fixtures could be taken by fellow Brazilian Denilson, who has not been selected for the Copa America.
Meanwhile Arsenal had hoped to sign winger Franck Ribery from Marseille but he is set to join Bayern Munich.
Initial discussions have already taken place, and officials from the clubs will meet again later this week with a view to completing a £17million transfer.
Another busy summer for the Bert-meister…
