Gilberto: too tired?
November 6, 2006
The Arsenal writers at Vital Football have suggested that Gilberto has been tiring in recent games towards the end. Taken from here, they say:
Another noticeable element was fatigue in Gilberto Silva. For 70 minutes he was excellent, picking up those loose balls in midfield. But in the last twenty minutes his legs deserted him and our midfield lost the plot as a result.
I think there is certainly some truth in this. Gilberto has been playing football without a break for two years solidly. He played in this years world cup, and the whole of Arsenal’s season before that…. and the summer before that; he was in the Confederations cup. The last major rest he had was while he was injured during the 2004-5 season. This plus Arsenal’s recent major fixture pile up surely can’t have helped Gilberto. He must be absolutely shattered; but what are Arsenal to do should he be rested? Play Flamini? Perhaps. But it is definitely a risk; Flamini hasn’t played in central midfield for over a year.
We just have to pray that Gilberto being so tired during games doesn’t result in him being injured.