Invisiblewall.net: Gilberto Silva News

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Gilberto and Song on standby for defensive job at Charlton

Arsène Wenger may have to draft in an emergency centre half at Charlton on Saturday if William Gallas and Johan Djourou fail to recover from injuries.

The pair picked up knocks at either end of the 2-0 win over Porto on Tuesday. Djourou aggravated a previous foot problem in the warm-up while Gallas damaged his hamstring in injury time. Both face scans in the next couple of days.

With Philippe Senderos still absent, Wenger admitted he may have to employ midfielders Alex Song or Gilberto in an unfamiliar role.

“Neither Gallas nor Djourou are fit at the moment,” the manager told Arsenal TV Online on Thursday afternoon. “Djourou will have a test tomorrow. Gallas is having a scan today and that will decide whether he participates in the Charlton game. Personally I am very pessimistic.

“We are short of central defenders at the moment because Philippe Senderos is still out. But Alex Song can fill in. He has played in central defence. Gilberto can play there too so we will just have to see.”

Arsenal TV Online subscribers will be able to see the full interview with Wenger on Friday morning. In it the manager discusses: the victory over Porto, why Arsenal’s form has improved in the past month, how he will celebrate his 10 years at Arsenal, Charlton’s poor start and the absence of Alan Curbishley.

Gilberto misses penalty, but Arsenal go on to win

In Thierry’s absence, Gilberto captiained Arsenal to a win over Manchester United. Emanuel Adebayor scored the winner late on to get Arsenal the three well needed points.

After Gilberto’s pre-match words of “Manchester United will kill us if we don’t attack them first” (read that story here), it was vital that Arsenal attacked early.

Gilberto has become a much more attacking player this season. He is getting into the opposition box a lot more, and as a result, he’s getting a lot more chances. He’s also taking penalties – which as captain, he has to volunteer to do.

Here is what a Manchester United fan said about Gilberto’s performance today!

I thought Gilberto was fucking mint for you guys today. Highlighted exactly what we are missing in midfield. Totally protected your back 4, mopped up any stray balls and intercepted when ever we tried to create. When you have someone like that protecting the defence then you have a chance anywhere. Different class. MOM for me!

Man of the match for me too.

Well done Bert! (Even though you missed the pen)

From Tribalfootball.com:

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva has hit out at former teammate Ashley Cole’s claims they lack fighting spirit.

The Chelsea fullback made the comments in his new book, My Defence, but Gilberto rapped: “If Ashley did say those things, it is completely wrong.

“He knows that inside of him. He knows the atmosphere at Arsenal has always been good. We need to show how strong we are all the time and what a great spirit we have in the group.”

Funny, I didn’t know Gilberto was a rapper.

Gilberto: Captain, Enforcer, Scorer

Yesterday (Wednesday) was a great night in Gilberto’s Arsenal career.

In Thierry Henry’s absence, Gilberto was captain. Gilberto scored a penalty in the 11th minute, and led Arsenal to a 2-1 win over Hamburg. Gilberto had a great game.

Here is the video of his goal:

Here is some skill he did:

How about that?

Taken from icons.com:

Silva: Arsenal have to think big in Europe

Gilberto Silva says why he thinks Arsenal’s Champions League game against Hamburg could be a dangerous mission.

To be honest, I know practically nothing about Hamburg, but German teams are always tricky opponents. They are a bit like the English sides; they are physically strong, they have a remarkable fighting spirit and lots of determination. You wouldn’t want to concede a goal against the Germans because they know how to defend. That makes our mission in Hamburg even more dangerous than normal.

It’s fair to say that Arsenal don’t have a good record in Germany. The thing with the Germans at home is that they keep their discipline as if they are playing away. But then again, every team in the Champions League gives you a hard time at home.

We all know how important Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole were for the club and there is no doubt that Arsenal have lost experience and quality with their departures – but that’s life in football and we just have to go on without them. I respect players’ decisions to leave. They moved somewhere else because it was better for them.

On the positive side, William Gallas’ arrival was extremely important, especially in terms of the experience he brings. In past seasons we’ve let our well-travelled guys leave and not replaced them. This time we have.

I think William has everything he needs to be a fantastic signing for us. He’s been a great player for Chelsea and France and I don’t see why he and Kolo Toure can’t form a very reliable partnership in our defence this season.

In the Cole-Gallas deal, both Arsenal and Chelsea ended up with quality players. One could say that Gallas is a more versatile player because he can also play as full-back, but I don’t see any sense in comparing the two players. They are both good people and the important thing is that both of them seem happy at their new clubs.

I must admit that when I read the statements put out by Chelsea about William, I thought the entire thing sounded very strange. It seemed as if Chelsea didn’t really want William to go and ended up not treating him with the respect he deserved. He helped their club win two Premiership titles and that should have been taken into consideration. I don’t really believe a professional player would threaten to score an own goal.

Our start to the season hasn’t been great but much of that is because we are just not killing our opponents. We are playing reasonably well, we are having more possession and creating chances, but we end up not scoring. Meanwhile, other teams are taking their chances. As we say in Brazil, if we decide to stab the jaguar, we’ve got to twist the knife as well!

Thierry Henry has plenty of time to score his 50th European goal, but it would be great if he scores it against Hamburg and we start our Champions League campaign in style. That’s important for us because last year, Arsenal did well from the very start and that possibly made all the difference.

Arsenal have to think big this season, but keep our feet on the ground. Let’s play again like a team, because that was the reason we got so close to the trophy last season. We must all pull together.

Our group is not easy, though. In the past Porto have shown the world how favouritism counts for nothing, and CSKA have a recent UEFA Cup title under their belts, let alone the fact that two of the newest players in the Brazil squad are there: Vagner Love and Daniel Carvalho. We will have to play well to reach the knockout stages.

Tuesday 12th September 2006

Gilberto’s new Brazilian friend, Julio Baptista, talked to The Sun about his musical interests. Here’s the interview:

JULIO BAPTISTA can make Arsenal’s Champions League rivals Hamburg face the music — after striking up a duet with Brazilian team-mate Gilberto.

Baptista, 24, nicknamed The Beast, made his Gunners debut as a sub against Middlesbrough following his arrival from Real Madrid.

The attacking midfielder, 24, now aims to make his first start in Germany tomorrow. And he also plans to get the dressing room singing along — as he is a sort of Samba George Formby.

He explained: “I play the cavaquinho — a Brazilian ukulele.

“I’ve always loved music. I learn tunes and use music for relaxing.

“Gilberto plays the mandolin, so I think I’ll end up jamming together with him.

“This used to happen with the Brazilians in Madrid. I’d pick up the cavaquinho then Roberto Carlos and Robinho would pitch up.”

Excellent!

Gilberto talked to the Arsenal website, and here’s what he said:

Brazilian Gilberto is in no doubt Arsenal’s results will soon begin to match their performances.

“This is the worst start since I have been here, but we need to believe in ourselves,” the midfielder said.

“We have a great team and want to turn the situation around.

“It is not a situation we are comfortable with because we are used to winning games, to be going for the title.

“But we will change it, that is for sure.”

The midfielder told Arsenal TV Online: “We are playing well, but are not scoring the chances we create.

“We can still get better and now need to focus on the next game, and what we need to do to win.

“It is important to start well in the Champions League, because you know each game you play will be very hard.

“If we go into this game thinking it will be easy, maybe there will be a problem.

“We need to keep our shape and just play our own game.”

Gilberto did an interview with icwales.co.uk. Here’s the interview.
(Source)

WELSH football’s golden boy was last night awarded the Silva standard.

Brazilian World Cup winner Gilberto Silva has hailed Ryan Giggs as one of “world football’s finest players” and believes the Manchester United idol is among “the last of dying breed” of one-club superstars.

The Arsenal idol watched in admiration as Welsh wizard Giggs stole the show from Ronaldinho, Robinho and Co in last week’s friendly with the Samba Boys before admitting “Boy Wonder” could’ve starred for Brazil in his “beautiful” pomp.

Giggsy pulled the strings for Manchester United during their decade of dominance between ’93 and 2003. He’s now the club’s most decorated player, with 15 major medals.

Gilberto remains in awe of Giggs’ consistency.

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He describes him as “the inspiration” behind United’s great start to the season, a belief borne out by the fact Giggs has been named Barclay’s Player of the Month for August.

Gilberto and Arsenal are preparing to face skipper Giggs’ rejuvenated United at Old Trafford next Sunday – but first the Welshman faces a Battle of Britain with Celtic as he begins his 13th Champions League campaign.

Gilberto told Wales on Sunday: “Ryan Giggs is a truly great player in every sense of the word.

“I regard Ryan as one of this generation’s greatest players. There have been so many world-class players like Zinedine Zidane, Paulo Maldini, Thierry Henry and Ryan Giggs is definitely up there alongside them.

“To play regularly for a great and successful club like Manchester United for so long, you have to be a bit special.”

This is 32-year-old Giggs’ 17th season as a professional at Old Trafford and he averages an amazing 37-and-a-half games a season, breaking records galore. He remains a pivotal figure for Sir Alex Ferguson in his new role in the centre of midfield.

“Not many players can compete at the highest level for that long,” admitted 29-year-old Gilberto. “It is an incredible achievement and I’ll count myself very lucky if I match him!

“Manchester United have signed a lot of excellent players over the years but Giggs has also performed at such a high level, he has made himself undroppable. Every time Ryan Giggs is challenged, he rises to it and moves up to an even higher level.

“A lot of players rest on their laurels and get upset by competition for places, but not Ryan. He is a professional with the right attitude and that’s the key to his success.

“He’s playing very well this season for Manchester United and is a big part of why they’re doing so well, which is a credit to Ryan as he is not young any more and has moved to a new position in central midfield.”

Brazil boss Dunga praised Giggs’ 45-minute cameo in Tuesday’s White Hart Lane friendly, saying: “Any manager in the world would like a player like Giggs in their side” Dunga’s captain Gilberto – who “carried the piano for Ronaldo and Rivaldo to play their tunes on” at the 2002 World Cup – added: “He could have represented any country in the world in his prime, even Brazil!

“Every football fan in Brazil knows Ryan Giggs. We like flair players who can dribble past defenders and Ryan Giggs can certainly do that.

“He still turns on the style now as he showed with some lovely flicks against us on Tuesday.”

Giggs’ dribbling abilities is epitomised by that goal – voted the best FA Cup goal ever.

It was against Gilberto’s Arsenal that Giggs scored his best and most famous goal when he dribbled from inside his own half to fire past David Seaman to win the FA Cup semi-final deep into extra-time. The goal proved a turning point for United on their march to their historic Champions League, Premiership and FA Cup winning treble in 1999.

That memorable trophy hat-trick was Giggs’ most successful season in his haul of a record-equalling eight championships, record-equalling four FA Cup wins, two League Cup titles and one Champions League.

And Giggs’ strike for United against Watford last month means he became the first player to have scored in every Premiership season – Gary Speed matched that landmark with a winner against Watford yesterday.

Giggs, who won his 59th Welsh cap against Brazil, is unique in modern day football as he’s one of a select few one-club players.

Since his United debut at Everton in March 1991, the Cardiff-born ace – immortalised in a episode of cult cartoon The Simpsons – has played an incredible 676 games for United – starting 602 of them.

Roma’s Francesco Totti, Real Madrid legend Raul and Giggs’ United team-mates Gary Neville and Paul Scholes are other top-class one-club men – and Gilberto reckons such achievements are becoming a thing of the past.

“Unfortunately, Ryan Giggs is one of the last of a dying breed of footballers,” said Gilberto.

“It’s nice to see players play for one club for so long.

“It doesn’t happen that often these days.

“I’m sure Ryan has been tempted by moves abroad but when you are happy at a club, you want to stay.

“Moving abroad isn’t just a footballing difference but it changes your lifestyle completely as you must adapt to the culture and that can take a very long time.

“Sometimes players never adapt.

“Happiness in football is the most important thing and you can sense the happiness in Ryan Giggs’ soul every time he steps out and plays football. You know he loves the game and loves his life – and his happiness makes a lot of people happy.”

tribalfooball.com – September 07, 2006

Gilberto Silva admits he knows nothing about new Arsenal teammate Denilson.

“To be honest I don’t know him, I have heard about him, but I don’t know him that much,” Gilberto told skysports.com.

“If he is joining Arsenal it is because he is a good player.

“Arsene is very careful when he tries to bring a player for the team because he has observed him for a long, long time.”

Gilberto’s place in Arsenal team: Threatened?

Nope.

Arsenal have signed Julio Baptista and Denilson – two more Brazilian midfielders. It seems Arsene Wenger loves Brazilian midfielders. (Don’t forget Edu, too.)

Is Gilberto’s place in the Arsenal threatened? No. He’s vice captain of the team. He is one of the last bits of experience in the team, and Wenger rates him very highly. Denilson will be used as backup for Gilberto and Baptista will be used as backup for Fabregas. This is unofficial, but as I’m announcing it here, I expect it to be adhered to.

It’s very exciting to see more Brazilians at Arsenal – and long may they last there. Gilberto will shake off the competition like he always does.

Exciting.