Gilberto advises team mates to stay

Midfielder Gilberto Silva has urged his team mates to stay on at help usher in a new era of success for Arsenal.

Despite not being a regular in the starting line-up for Arsenal, the Brazilian World Cup winner was also keen to stay on at the club and honour the contract he has.

Gilberto said: "I don't know what they have in mind but they should stay a little bit longer.

"Maybe they want to try something different, but they could develop themselves and achieve big things at Arsenal.

"The team is young and getting better. It could be really special if the players all stay. What is important is to keep everyone at the club, for them to stay long-term at the club.

"I haven't spoken to them since the end of the season but in my opinion Arsenal is still a great, great club and fantastic for any player in the world.

"It's a gamble when you move to another club. Everything is different. You don't know how things work.

"You don't know how the team plays. You don't even know if you will play.

"It would be a good thing for them to stay at the club because they know each other very well.

"They have a better situation than last season and could use the feeling of disappointment as an inspiration for next season."

"I do want to stay. It depends when I come back if Arsène wants me to stay. I still have one year left on my contract.

"I'm happy to stay at the club. I will wait until I return to London and pre-season training on 21 July and then I will sit down and talk about it."

User Comments

captainjoe

Posted on 11 Jun, 2008 at 10:47 PM - Reply

Well said Gilberto.Just keep putting your best and will get games

pp001d1625

Posted on 11 Jun, 2008 at 11:40 AM - Reply

Arsene should make Gilberto captain and convince him to replace Gallas in Central Defence where he will still have three seasons left in him.Gilberto commands respect and is a model professional and Cesc can learn from a real captain so as to take over in a few years.

James

Posted on 11 Jun, 2008 at 06:32 AM - Reply

So true. Where was Gilberto when it came time to choose captains? What a champion, hopefully Wenger will give him as many starts as he wants now, because I really think he is very good, Arsenal's backline holds its shape better when they have Gilberto standing up ahead, and he is so strong that he can hold the ball up and bring smaller players like walcott into the game.

Troy

Posted on 11 Jun, 2008 at 12:32 AM - Reply

Well said, it is a pity more players don't have this mindset and see past the money on offer, perform and you will be rewarded accordingly. Hopefully Arsene will not let Gilberto go...

Richard

Posted on 10 Jun, 2008 at 11:56 PM - Reply

What an example.Gilberto is such a good professional. Although I feel a replacement for Flamini is needed, I dont think Gilberto can fill the void anymore. Saying that, I respect him so much and he plays for the team and not for himself! With his dedication he should have been captain, he was always fit, put in 100% all the time. I think Wenger just feels when players hit 30 thats it.

Adeboye

Posted on 10 Jun, 2008 at 07:57 PM - Reply

Nothing but a faithful player and as for me, he has made a land mark in his history as Arsenal player.

Diegojay

Posted on 10 Jun, 2008 at 05:42 PM - Reply

Yes, Gilberto should have been captian if he was going to play regularly, but look at the difference in ages between Flamini and Gilberto...One was the future, one had given us his best, but is on the way down...Hindsight is a wonderful thing. Wenger gambled, sometimes it comes off (Pat going and a young kid called Cesc came in!) Maybe Flamini and Diarra will prove a bad loss for us...but look at the history, almost everyone that leaves us doesn't go onto better things (Flamini has left to play in empty stadiums, with no Champions league football in a league that is in a slump - The grass isn't always greener...)Wenger doesn't always get it right, he is after all human (altough sometimes we forget this:-), but he gets it right a hell of a lot more than he gets it wrong.

Seun

Posted on 10 Jun, 2008 at 04:33 PM - Reply

Gilberto is the real leader at arsenal trying to keep his teamates together and achieve sucess in the future.
the real arsenal captain.

nyataldo

Posted on 10 Jun, 2008 at 02:26 PM - Reply

He deserves the captain's armband, he' is indeed a legend.

Tim

Posted on 10 Jun, 2008 at 01:28 PM - Reply

This guy should have been captain. His form has been below part last season but that is because he did not play often and I'm sure it played a part in his mind. He was cast out from the beginning by Wenger. how? because Wenger had already told Flamini that he is going to be a regular before the season started. We all know how good he was the season before and there was no reason then for wengr to suggest that Gilberto will not play as good as he has been. But look now, the boy Flamini was given preference over Gilberto, where is he now? A little success and is jumped ship. If he really loved Arsenal he would have seen his performance as an opportunity to sign not tp leave. He was told to prove himself before being given a new contract. He did prove himself, so he should have signed the contract. This explains why Gilberto was not given the captaincy. Wenger knew he would not use him because of his deal(promise) with Flamini.

sulazu

Posted on 10 Jun, 2008 at 01:25 PM - Reply

Gilberto is truly an Arsenal faithful and indeed a legend. If there is anyone who had enough reasons to leave considering the captaincy issue and limited play time, he should be the one. Yet like the true professional that he is, opts to stay. We love you and you certainly have a place in Arsenal`s history.

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