Invisiblewall.net: Gilberto Silva News

From Arsenal.com

Wenger – ‘Fantastic’ Gilberto will fight for place

Last season, it would have been difficult to imagine Gilberto not starting in the Arsenal side. Aside from his combative midfield duties, the Brazilian also took on the captaincy and the penalty-taking in a challenging campaign.

This term, he has found himself out of the side. His spell at the Copa America saw him report back to training later than the rest of the squad and consequently he missed much of pre-season training. Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini started the campaign as the central midfield pair and, given Arsenal’s record of nine wins and a draw from their first 10 games, have been virtually undroppable. Meanwhile Tuesday’s victory over Newcastle showed the potential of Denilson and new signing Lassana Diarra.

Wenger’s is aware of Gilberto’s disappointment.

“Yes I can understand that,” he said. “But it’s not that you can chat with the guy that he is not disappointed anymore, it’s all part of competition.

“Gilberto is an outstanding player – mentally and morally fantastic – but he accepts competition. I think he is a very good centre back but as well it is down to the balance of the team.

“I feel at the moment Flamini is playing extremely well. Diarra and Denilson are doing well too. There is tremendous competition, you cannot stop that, but that doesn’t take anything away from what Gilberto does, or has done.”

On the back of all this “Gilberto leaving” gossip, this is reassuring to hear, from Gilberto’s point of view.

“Flamini or Gilberto” seems to be the word on the street at the moment. I think both can do a fantastic job in midfield, and both offer a different quality. (Not many people can accept that neither player is ‘better’ than the other one, and that perhaps they both do different things.)

Gilberto changes his mind

Following confusing reports from The Mirror which suggested Gilberto was ready to leave Arsenal in 2009, Silvy has now told an even dodgier newspaper (The Star) that he wants to renew his contract when it ends. He said:

After this year I have one more year left on my contract and we will see if I can sort it out, like we did the last time my contract was down to its last 12 months.

I have always said I want to stay at the club.

Compare this to what he said yesterday:

I’m not sure whether I will resign when my contract runs out in 18 months.

Hmm… rather conflicting, wouldn’t you say?

Either way, I’m glad he’s decided to stay at Arsenal.

Go Bert. (And next time try to remember what you said in yesterday’s interview.)

Gilberto hints at his future

This morning The Daily Mail and The Mirror are both reporting the following Gilberto quote:

I’m not sure whether I will resign when my contract runs out in 18 months. I know there has been interest from Valencia and Juventus. We will see but I still have an ambition to win the Champions League.

We made the most important signing of the summer – the gaffer.

Obviously being the crappy newspapers that they are, the Mirror and the Mail are both saying this is a “BLAST” from Gilberto. However, if we look back to a few seasons ago, we are reminded that Gilberto has always said that he anticipates leaving Arsenal in 2009. So this news really isn’t as shocking as we are led to believe. It will be sad to see Gilberto leave when he does, but that doesn’t mean he’s snubbing the club or anything. He has a personal plan, as does every player.

Also, the Mirror says that Gilberto has previously stated that he will see out his football career at the gunners – implying that he is now going back on his word because of the buyout situation at board level. This is not so. Let me clarify that Gilberto has only ever said that he ‘would like’ to play for the gunners as long as he can, however, he has ALWAYS expressed a desire to continue playing football after his career at Arsenal is over.

ALSO – this story is somewhat presumptious in assuming that Gilberto will even be offered a new contract once his current one runs out. He will be 34 when his current one finishes, meaning that Arsene Wenger may not even wish to keep him. (If you know how Arsene Wenger does contract negociations, this will not come as a surprise to you.) I obviously hope that Wenger will want to keep Gilberto – but the story in the papers is spun as if to suggest Gilberto is ‘breaking away’ from Arsenal – when this isn’t really the truth.

Just thought I’d clear that up.

Here are the two news sources which report this:

The Mirror and The Mail

Gilberto strangely did not feature at all in the Arsenal vs. Derby game – and unlike the European game against Sparta Prague on Wednesday, he didn’t even appear on the bench.

The reason why he was omitted from the squad isn’t covered in any match reports which I have read. If you know the reason that Gilberto wasn’t in the squad, do let us know – email me via http://www.invisiblewall.net/contact

Thanky doodle doo.

The BBC has a little Arsenal injury summary for the Arsenal vs. Derby game this weekend, so I hand over to them:

Arsenal are sweating on the fitness of defender Philippe Senderos (hip) and winger Alexander Hleb (knee).

Tmoas Rosicky is definitely out with a hamstring problem and joins William Gallas, goalkeeper Jens Lehmann and Emmanuel Eboue in the treatment room.

Arsenal (from): Almunia, Clichy, Sagna, Senderos, Toure, Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Diaby, Adebayor, van Persie, Fabianski, Eduardo, Diarra, Denilson, Gilberto, Walcott, Song, Bendtner, Hoyte.

So, Gilberto is in the squad for the game and it looks like he’ll feature. Incidentally, he was actually in the squad for the Seville game too, but he didn’t play in that game. He was just an unused substitute, but I think that was just because he was still feeling the after effects of his Grand Brazilian Footballing Tour Of The Universeâ„¢. He should have recovered by now, and he’ll probably start in defence again, since all Arsenal’s defenders have been struck by the plague (or whatever injury crisis is currently prevalent at the club this week) and the Flamini-Cesc partnership looks extremely solid in midfield, where Bert normally plays.

So, that’s that. Go Bert. Etc.

Trio out so Wenger faces Gilberto decision

Arsène Wenger has one decision to make ahead of the Champions League Group H opener against Sevilla at Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.

Arsenal still have William Gallas (groin), Emmanuel Eboue (ankle) and Jens Lehmann (elbow) out. But the manager is mulling over whether to rest Gilberto now Philippe Senderos is back from suspension.

The Brazilian filled in at centre back against Tottenham on Saturday despite a globe-trotting week on international duty.

“We are still without William Gallas, Emmanuel Eboue and Jens Lehmann,” said Wenger. “I have not decided [about Gilberto] yet. I will decide tomorrow but Senderos is back in the squad.”

Gallas is to be expected back for the West Ham game a week on Saturday.

The answer will be revealed very shortly.

Despite only having arrived back in London this morning (Friday), Gilberto looks set to play against Spurs tomorrow. He has been away on a pesky international tour with Brazil, in which they visited such countries as America, Norland, Swaziville and Makarakanakanov. What a nuisance.

Anyway. It is rumoured that Gilberto will start in defence, following the recent injuries to the other Arsenal centre backs.

Good luck, you big Bert-filled being, and let’s hope the jetlag doesn’t affect you too much.

Gilberto wants to beat Spurs:

“This is the match any Gunner wants to win.

“I am not worried by Jol’s situation. That’s Tottenham’s problem and it’s logical that we want to make Tottenham suffer more.

“If Jol is sacked because of an Arsenal win it’s not a problem to me. I can sleep calmly. My preoccupation is with us.”

I honestly can’t say I’m very shocked at these quotes – I would only be shocked if Gilberto said, “I want to let Spurs win so Jol can keep his job”. I would also find Gilberto and give him a good slapping.

But that’s just me.

Source: This Is London

Arsenal’s impressive start to the season is down to the players keeping out of the boardroom row at Emirates Stadium, according to Gilberto Silva.

The Brazilian midfielder, who excelled as a makeshift centre back in the 3-1 defeat of Portsmouth that sent Arsenal to second place in the table, has insisted that new controversy over foreign investment in the club will not distract the players.

It is understood that Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov will this week seek a meeting with the Arsenal board of directors after paying £75million for the 14.58 per cent stake held by former vice-chairman David Dein.

But Gilberto said: “As players we don’t know exactly what the problem is with the board, if there is any problem.

“The only thing we have on our minds as players is to keep doing our job and not to get involved in those other things. It is important we continue the good start we have made, especially at home.”

Last season Arsenal claimed just five points from their first three home games. This term they have a maximum of nine points from wins over Fulham, Manchester City and now Portsmouth.

Gilberto said: “We all realise how hard it was for us last season after we made such a bad start. In the end we couldn’t catch up with the teams above us. We don’t want the same thing to happen again.”

Source: Sky Sports

Gilberto: Gunners have the edge

Gilberto believes Arsenal have the jump on their rivals as The Gunners have greater continuity as a team.

While Arsenal’s rivals have spent big this summer, Arsene Wenger has opted for a conservative approach in the transfer market.

Gilberto thinks that while fellow title challengers require time to gel, Wenger’s troops already know each other’s game.

“Yes Arsenal haven’t spent a lot of money, but we have been playing together for a few years,” he told the club’s official website.

“That makes a difference in the game because we all know each other – if I pass to Cesc he knows exactly where the forwards will be.

“Other clubs have made very good signings and sometimes it can make a very big difference for them but we just need to concentrate on how we play.

“Arsene has his policy over signing players and he does what he believes it is right for the club.”

Tis true, tis true. For a few seasons now, Arsenal have been a “in a few years they will be great” team. But now, all the former-youngsters are playing well in their peak, and they are a team unit. It’s time for them to deliver, and this season is their stage to do so.