Wenger hails Gilberto
April 2, 2005
ARSENE WENGER has hailed the resilience of world champion Gilberto Silva, who returns to the side today after a career-threatening back injury.
The Gunners boss has also been given a further boost by the return to fitness of Sol Campbell from an ankle injury and the recuperation of striker Thierry Henry who faces Norwich.
Campbell will take in a reserve game on Monday to prove his fitness ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Blackburn.
Yet it is Gilberto’s comeback that pleased Wenger most last night. He has been sidelined since mid-September and both men feared the player would have to have to hang up his boots as his stress fracture of the back frustrated the medics.
Indeed Wenger believes the Brazilian has only been properly appreciated while he has been missing – and Arsenal’s defensive record has suffered as a result.
The Frenchman said: “The positive thing is when he didn’t play, people realised how important he is and he became a more highly-rated player.
“It’s not only because he protects the centre-backs, it’s also because he’s good in the air and we have conceded many goals from crosses this season.
“It’s a shame as sometimes people who have a real team attitude, rather than a flashy one, only get that kind of recognition when they don’t play. People forget Gilberto is a world champion but he’s a quiet guy and he doesn’t want special attention.
“I wouldn’t like to diminish the merits of Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini as we’ve still had a reasonable season as they’ve done extremely well.
“But when we didn’t have Edu, Gilberto and Vieira together, we were a bit young.”
Gilberto’s return is also particularly timely as Patrick Vieira is ruled out with a hip injury and Edu is still missing with a hamstring problem.
Henry (left), who returns from a calf injury, recently claimed Gilberto was as important to Arsenal as Makelele is to Chelsea. Wenger added: “Yes, they do a similar job. They make the game fluent and simple.”
Although Gilberto is ready to return after playing three times for the reserves, Wenger revealed: “It was very serious.
“If he had needed surgery, he could have locked a part of the back that needs to be very flexible for a footballer.
“It was a stress fracture from fatigue. He developed that in Brazil with his shin and was out for nine months, but he has worked tremendously hard to return.”
Wenger is wary of the threat posed by Norwich and especially striker Dean Ashton, whom he tried to sign from Crewe.
“We wanted to take him on as he’d played so well in the Youth Cup against us,” he added.
“We watched him again and again, but Crewe wanted to keep him. And when he was finally available, we didn’t need him.”