Editorial: Gilberto vs. Flamini
January 30, 2008
Since the start of Arsenal’s 2007-08 season, I’ve been receiving emails from Gilberto fans around the world telling me that Gilberto should be in Arsenal’s starting eleven. These people usually then go on to say that Flamini is actually “Rubbish”, and Gilberto should be given back his place in the team.
I appreciate all the emails I get, and while I don’t reply to them all, I certainly do read every single one. However, the emails which slate Flamini strike me as very strange. These Gilberto fans, who (like me) think that Gilberto is a brilliant player, are emailing me to say how rubbish Flamini is. The falacy should need no pointing out: if Flamini is rubbish, and is keeping Gilberto out of the team, that must make Gilberto even worse than rubbish!
Let me state this fact for any people who are confused: Flamini is an EXCELLENT player. Yesterday’s game against Newcastle United showed this fact loud and clear. He was Arsenal’s man of the match by about 600 miles, and scored an absolutely breathtaking goal. In fact, he has been astounding all season. He may have gotten his chance by luck at the beginning of the season (due to Gilberto’s late arrival from Copa America) – but, by God, how he grabbed his chance by the horns and made the most of it.
So, if the fact that Flamini is excellent is true – what does this mean for Gilberto? Does it reflect badly on Gilberto? Many people seem to think that it does – but this is clearly false. If Gilberto is being kept out by an amazing player (Arsenal’s best), then this actually reflects well on Gilberto. It’s the player equivalent of a country losing to the eventual winners of the world cup: there’s no shame in being knocked out by the best.
Not only is there no shame for Gilbero: it’s actually better for him that Flamini is playing so well. It will give Gilberto no option but to up his game, and improve himself even more in training. If there was no pressure from great midfielders at Arsenal, Gilberto would have no pressure to improve, and he wouldn’t need to put in the effort to play as amazingly as he has done in the past.
Gilberto’s task is this: outplay Arsenal’s best player. It’s not an easy one, but should he do it, he would show everybody how tough a player he is. Gilberto is a man who does not lay down and die at the mere suggestion of competition: Wenger has repeatedly praised Gilberto’s attitude in the face of competition this season, and if he continues his efforts, he’ll eventually replace Flamini again (be that thanks to a chance-inclusion as with Flamini, or by merit alone).
To conclude: Flamini is not rubbish. He’s actually brilliant. And this can only serve to help Gilberto in the long run.