The media is full of rumours at the moment regarding the future of Arsenal’s Brazilian midfielder Gilberto da Silva.
The 30-year-old, who signed for the Gunners in 2002, has been reportedly attracting interest from big clubs in Italy and it would surprise many if he did leave, especially after last season when he produced his best form in Arsenal colours.
Having said that, he is 30 years old and still under contract. If he were to stay he would only get a one year deal and not playing regularly would clearly not suit his career. The way Matthieu Flamini has started the season, it seems highly unlikely the Brazilian will feature much even though he has performed well in the centre of defence that can only ever be as a stop gap measure.
There is an argument that having Gilberto warming the bench keeps the younger players such as Flamini on their toes, the thinking being that if the rising stars doesn’t perform then the experienced Brazilian will come in and he will. Nice idea but it tends to contradict the Wenger way.
With the exception of Denis Bergkamp, and with such an exceptional payer you should make exceptions, once an outfield player reaches 30 something Arsene looks to ease him out. Look at Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieria, Sylvian Wiltord and Robert Pires.
Young players at Arsenal know that if they’re good enough they’ll get a chance. And this crop of youngsters knows that if they don’t pull their weight on the pitch then waiting in the reserves is someone who will.
Flamini is worried, of course he is. But perhaps what worries him most is not the aging Gilberto but Abou Diaby, the Vieria look alike who has been forced wide because of his French colleague’s form. For while Diaby has been playing regularly this season he is not by nature a wide man, note his tendency to cut inside at every opportunity.
If I know Diaby is no natural wide player then you can be sure he knows it too. And he knows just why he’s playing there. If his standards were to drop just slightly then waiting, in the wings – quite literally – to take his place is Theo Walcott.
Even the mercurial Catalan Cesc Fabregas is nervous. If he fails to maintain his ever growing standards then he’s out and in will come Denilson, another Brazilian who has shone in fleeting appearances.
If either of Flamini or Diaby struggle then there is always Plan C. Lassana Diarra, Arsenal’s deadline day signing from Chelsea who is adept at sitting in front of the back four and doing the simple stuff.
Oh, and I haven’t mentioned Tomas Rosicky and Alexander Hleb yet!
In recent years, ever since the unbeaten run came to an end at Old Trafford when Manchester United kicked first, played second, there has been a feeling that Arsenal have a soft centre.
Not any more. And the whole lot cost less than one Darren Bent!
Courtesy - Antony Sutton (http://www.espnstar.com/)
The 30-year-old, who signed for the Gunners in 2002, has been reportedly attracting interest from big clubs in Italy and it would surprise many if he did leave, especially after last season when he produced his best form in Arsenal colours.
Having said that, he is 30 years old and still under contract. If he were to stay he would only get a one year deal and not playing regularly would clearly not suit his career. The way Matthieu Flamini has started the season, it seems highly unlikely the Brazilian will feature much even though he has performed well in the centre of defence that can only ever be as a stop gap measure.
There is an argument that having Gilberto warming the bench keeps the younger players such as Flamini on their toes, the thinking being that if the rising stars doesn’t perform then the experienced Brazilian will come in and he will. Nice idea but it tends to contradict the Wenger way.
With the exception of Denis Bergkamp, and with such an exceptional payer you should make exceptions, once an outfield player reaches 30 something Arsene looks to ease him out. Look at Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieria, Sylvian Wiltord and Robert Pires.
Young players at Arsenal know that if they’re good enough they’ll get a chance. And this crop of youngsters knows that if they don’t pull their weight on the pitch then waiting in the reserves is someone who will.
Flamini is worried, of course he is. But perhaps what worries him most is not the aging Gilberto but Abou Diaby, the Vieria look alike who has been forced wide because of his French colleague’s form. For while Diaby has been playing regularly this season he is not by nature a wide man, note his tendency to cut inside at every opportunity.
If I know Diaby is no natural wide player then you can be sure he knows it too. And he knows just why he’s playing there. If his standards were to drop just slightly then waiting, in the wings – quite literally – to take his place is Theo Walcott.
Even the mercurial Catalan Cesc Fabregas is nervous. If he fails to maintain his ever growing standards then he’s out and in will come Denilson, another Brazilian who has shone in fleeting appearances.
If either of Flamini or Diaby struggle then there is always Plan C. Lassana Diarra, Arsenal’s deadline day signing from Chelsea who is adept at sitting in front of the back four and doing the simple stuff.
Oh, and I haven’t mentioned Tomas Rosicky and Alexander Hleb yet!
In recent years, ever since the unbeaten run came to an end at Old Trafford when Manchester United kicked first, played second, there has been a feeling that Arsenal have a soft centre.
Not any more. And the whole lot cost less than one Darren Bent!
Courtesy - Antony Sutton (http://www.espnstar.com/)
