Gilberto plays for the reserves
March 14, 2005
Gilberto returned to action after six months out as Arsenal Reserves beat Chelsea 3-2 at Barnet on Monday night.
The Brazilian midfielder played 65 minutes as Neil Banfield’s side came from behind against their London neighbours thanks to a hat-trick from Jeremie Aliadiere.
Gilberto cracked a vertebrae on the opening day of the Premiership season at Everton but, unaware of the problem, he went on to play six more games. His last appearance came in the 2-2 draw with Bolton on September 18.
He looked comfortable and assured as a youthful Arsenal side overwhelmed the second-string of the Premiership leaders. Aliadiere, whose season has also been blighted by injury, looked back to his best aswell with three classy strikes.
Every Arsenal fan will be happy to see these two in contention for a first-team place once more.
The home side Arsenal were the first to go close when Sebastian Larsson curled a free kick just wide. But it was not a portent of things to come and Chelsea went on to dominate the next 30 minutes with Filipe Oliveira the main irritant to Arsenal’s re-jigged defence.
In the 10th minute, the winger set up Sebastian Kneissl for a shot across the face of goal. Then Oliveria danced up the right, cut inside and fired just wide. He followed that with a mazy dribble that only ended with the sliding Kerrea Gilbert smothering his shot as he looked set to score from 10 yards.
He went closest in the 22nd minute when Danny Hollands flicked through and, with the outside of his foot, Oliveria diverted the ball past Stuart Taylor and against the post.
The keeper proved Arsenal’s saviour just before half-time as the tide continued to flow against the home side. Holland crossed and Jimmy Smith nodded down for the unmarked Kneissl 12 yards out. He hit the half-volley with venom but Taylor stood up and diverted the ball away with his left hand. A stunning save from close range.
However Arsenal were living on borrowed time and they paid the debt in the 29th when Oliveria sent Kneissl free on the right and slid a shot across Taylor and into the far corner.
It seemed that, on this occasion, only conceding a goal would wake up Arsenal up. Ryan Smith started to stretch his legs and show his pace on the left. He drove over from Arturo Lupoli’s pass in the 33rd minute then tested Chelsea keeper Lenny Pidgeley soon afterwards.
Eight minutes from the break Arsenal levelled. Anthony Stokes collected in midfield and sent an intelligent, raking ball forward for Aliadiere to chase. The bounced favoured the French forward and Steven Watt clipped his heels as he looked for space in the area. Aliadiere planted home the penalty with conviction.
Within seconds of the goal, Chelsea might have retaken the lead when Kneissl’s snapshot hit the underside of the bar and bounced away to safety. Arsenal made them pay a minute later when Smith’s sent Aliadiere away in the area and the 21-year-old, only recently back after knee surery, steered home a stylish second. Pidgeley slipped as the goal went in and needed treatment. As he did so, the referee consulted with his assistant about the validity of the goal. In the end it was given; Arsenal had completed an incredible turnaround.
Before the break, Alaidiere might have completed his hat-trick and Lupoli bundled a header over the bar.
The treble did arrive for the three minutes after the interval. Smith back-heeled for Lupoli to feed the French Under-21 striker and his finish was a rasping, rising drive to Pidgley’s right.
The goal took the edge of a game that had sparkled from the opening few minutes. After Gilberto made his exit, Lupoli’s byline cross nearly crept in at the far post.
Quincy came on to rapturous applause for the final stages. As usual, the Dutchman striker added directness and pace to the attack. But he could not add to Arsenla’s goal tally.
Indeed it was Chelsea who struck with three minutes left. Substitute Patrick Cregg tapped the ball back to Taylor and the keeper’s weak clearance fell to Oliveria, who squared for Kneissl to finish from close range.
It heralded a tense finale. Filipe Morais flashed an effort wide within seconds and then nearly set up Kneissl for the equaliser. Taylor stretched his frame to clutch the low cross.
It was the final act of a dramatic game.