Gilberto Silva performed 244 occasions for Arsenal between 2002-2008 and was a part of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles facet that received the 2003/04 Premier League.
The Brazilian joined Arsenal from Atletico Mineiro in August 2002 having received the World Cup that summer time. He made an instantaneous affect, scoring the winner on his debut as Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 to raise the 2002 Charity Defend.
Gilberto additionally acquired Arsenal’s fastest-ever Champions League purpose, scoring after solely 20.07 seconds in a 4-0 win at PSV in September 2002. And Gilberto received the 2003 FA Cup as Robert Pires’ purpose handed Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Southampton at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Mikel Arteta is now hoping to copy these glory years and information Arsenal to their first title in 20 years.
“It received’t be simple,” admitted Gilberto, who scored 4 occasions as Arsenal went unbeaten within the Premier League in 2003/04. “However I do assume Arsenal can win the Premier League.
“Final 12 months they got here so shut. I used to be very unhappy for them. I do know what it’s like to return near success then lose. I had it within the 2006 Champions League Ultimate [which Arsenal lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris].
“Arsenal has an excellent crew proper now, and there’s a starvation to win. Once I communicate to Edu that’s at all times clear. So now they want a giant effort as a result of it’s not going to be simple to complete above Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis.”
Arsenal at present lead the Premier League on purpose distinction having scored an astonishing 33 occasions in 2024. And after the worldwide break, they face a probably season-defining fixture away at third-placed Manchester Metropolis on March 31.
“Some of these video games are those soccer gamers relish,” stated Gilberto. “It’s essential to elevate your recreation and focus. Most gamers like this. Arsenal has a terrific alternative in entrance of them.”
Key to Arsenal’s success this season has been £105m file signing Declan Rice, who joined from West Ham final summer time. The England midfielder has performed in each Premier League recreation to this point and scored six occasions – a profession excessive for a single season.
Rice has improved his progressive passing over the previous few seasons, while Arteta at all times felt he had stronger offensive output in him in comparison with his West Ham numbers.
Gilberto had his personal offensive spurt in 2006/07, scoring 10 Premier League objectives and ending as Arsenal’s second-highest league scorer, degree with Thierry Henry and just one behind Robin van Persie.
However the now 47-year-old, who joined Arsenal for simply £4.5m, doesn’t really feel the trendy defensive midfielder essentially requires objectives.
“I hear plenty of pundits say the place has modified, however I’m not so positive,” stated Gilberto. “For me, the rules stay the identical. I nonetheless view Declan as a holding midfielder who protects the again 4 and offers assist to the blokes up entrance. It’s the identical job I used to be requested to do.
“What is de facto necessary within the place is the passing. It doesn’t matter what number of balls you win again if you happen to then simply lose possession. So that you want a imaginative and prescient: to know the way you’re going to win the ball then what you’re going to do with it.
“Declan does this rather well. He by no means runs again or ahead with no plan. And bodily he’s a monster, and the scary half is he’s nonetheless elevating his degree. I feel he’s been wonderful for Arsenal. It simply looks like he has recognized the membership and its gamers for a really very long time. He’s tailored so quick since becoming a member of from West Ham.
“I additionally imagine he can play with both Thomas Partey or Jorginho. I do know they play roughly in the identical function, however as a result of Rice is adaptable their talents are complimentary.”
Though Arsenal are prioritising a striker this summer time, they’re nonetheless looking out for one more midfielder as properly, and will renew their curiosity in both Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz or Actual Sociedad’s Martin Zubimendi.
Gilberto would like to see his fellow Brazilian Luiz on the Emirates Stadium, however fears Aston Villa may worth him out of the market. A £70m payment has been steered prior to now, but it surely’s doable Villa demand a quantity nearer to the £105m Rice was signed for if they’re to entertain a sale.
“I feel he’ll be costly as a result of he’s in good kind,” stated Gilberto. “I’m simply pleased to see one other Brazilian doing a terrific job within the Premier League. Any high membership would need him proper now, so why not Arsenal? I feel it might be a terrific transfer for the membership and for him as properly.”
Luiz has made the Brazil squad for this month’s friendlies with England and Spain. And the sport in opposition to England at Wembley would be the first for brand new Brazil head coach Dorival Júnior.
The 61-year-old is getting into into the twenty sixth managerial job of his profession and can lead Brazil on the Copa America within the USA this summer time.
It’s been a tricky interval of transition for Brazil, who misplaced to Croatia on penalties in quarter-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar; while their Below-23 Olympic squad did not qualify for Paris this summer time regardless of having received gold at each the 2020 (performed in 2021) and 2016 Video games.
“I’m slightly bit involved, to be trustworthy,” conceded Gilberto, who received 89 caps and began the 2002 World Cup Ultimate as Brazil beat Germany 2-0 thanks to 2 Ronaldo Nazário objectives.
“After the World Cup in Qatar, it took the federation some time to decide on who would substitute Tite. In accordance with the media, Carlo Ancelotti was going to be appointed, but it surely by no means occurred.
“A soccer nation like Brazil – very similar to England or Germany – can’t go so lengthy with out understanding who the supervisor is. Ramon Menezes after which Fernando Diniz got here in as interim managers and I don’t assume that was the appropriate determination.
“And now we’ve got misplaced time as we attempt to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. Diniz tried his finest but it surely’s troublesome as an interim. He made an excellent effort.
“It appears the federation realised they couldn’t get Ancelotti then went for Diniz, and now Dorival Junior has acquired the job completely. He’s had simply over a month to this point and his first recreation in opposition to England is a tricky take a look at. I feel he’s a winner and I hope he takes Brazil to the stage we count on.
“As for the gamers, I count on them to face up and lift their degree to that which Brazilian gamers have labored so onerous through the years to construct. They should tackle this accountability and we’re all behind them.”
Gilberto has seen first-hand the sort of criticism that comes with an under-performing Brazil facet. And much too many occasions fan discontent can flip to abuse.
It’s one purpose why Gilberto determined to affix forces with former worldwide teammate Roberto Carlos, and tech entrepreneur Tim Chase, to advertise Striver – billed because the world’s first abuse-free social media platform.
Chase based Striver in 2022 and the platform has seen speedy funding and development since as a result of it gives a secure area to work together on-line.
“Our mission is to assist the soccer group. We wish everybody to interact with out concern of abuse,” defined Gilberto. “So usually we’ve got seen gamers, referees or followers being abused. It’s grow to be so widespread, which is ridiculous.
“We reasonable content material earlier than it will get uploaded utilizing Synthetic Intelligence. And as soon as we take away the abuse, individuals can actually begin to interact and have an excellent dialog.”
Actual Madrid’s Vinicius Jr is only one of sadly many examples of gamers struggling repeated racial abuse on-line. This led to the Brazil nationwide crew swapping its shiny yellow shirts for black ones throughout a pleasant in opposition to Guinea final 12 months with a view to take a stand.
Gilberto believes gamers are reluctant to interact understanding they might be personally focused by usually faceless on-line trolls.
“The purpose of Striver is to offer gamers a platform the place they will speak to followers with out fear,” he stated. “A variety of gamers on different social platforms ‘publish and ghost’. They only ‘run away’ as a result of they’re involved in regards to the feedback. Meaning actual followers miss out as a result of a minority who select to constantly abuse. So as an alternative, we take away abuse earlier than it’s posted, taking away the voice of those that make issues poisonous.
“Striker can be very distinctive as a result of followers get actually artistic on the platform. For instance, in January I did a 30-day health problem to assist individuals kickstart the 12 months in a wholesome method. And Roberto Carlos recreated his well-known free-kick in opposition to France. Some followers even tried to copy it, and it blew their thoughts when Roberto responded with a video message!
“And generally I simply go on there and ask a query about Arsenal. It’s nice to see all of the responses. And also you stay up for them when you recognize they’ll all be abuse-free.”
Gilberto has made the transition from soccer to enterprise seamlessly and is working tougher than ever to sort out (and hopefully in the future finish) on-line abuse.
“It’s arguably a much bigger problem than in my enjoying days,” he stated. “The work by no means stops, however I had deliberate to enter enterprise lengthy earlier than I retired. While I used to be nonetheless enjoying I began desirous about what I wished to do after soccer.
“But it surely’s not about me. It’s about individuals realising sports activities stars are human. We need to make social media, and the world, a greater place… and naturally hopefully speak about Arsenal profitable the Premier League once more within the course of!”