Gilberto Silva has lost his place in the
Arsenal side
Gilberto's Arsenal future looks doomed after telling Arsene
Wenger he did not want to play in central defence at Sheffield
United tomorrow. The Daily Star report that boss Wenger wanted
midfielder Gilberto to add experience in defence with a young side
facing a physical Blades outfit in the Carling Cup
clash.
Philippe Senderos, who played in the previous round against
Newcastle, has been out with a back injury and Wenger did not want
to risk fielding skipper William Gallas or Kolo Toure so close to
Saturday's crunch clash with Manchester United. But Gilberto, who
skippered Brazil to their Copa America triumph in the summer, has
become increasingly frustrated about not being able to play in
central midfield.
He told the manager he wasn't happy about being a stand-in centre
back - as he was asked to be against Spurs earlier this season
after Senderos was injured in the warm-up - and as a result was
axed from the squad. Wenger's treatment of such an influential and
experienced player - he was an ever-present in midfield when Brazil
won the World Cup in 2002 - has raised eyebrows at Arsenal.
After helping out Wenger at White Hart Lane and also playing at
centre back in three earlier games, Gilberto has had just 66
minutes' action in midfield and has seen his place taken by
Frenchman Mathieu Flamini. Starsport also revealed early in the
season how Gilberto only learned he has been axed as skipper - with
the job going to William Gallas - by reading about it on the
Arsenal website.
Gilberto was widely judged to have had an excellent season for the
Gunners in their last campaign, scoring 11 goals and leading the
club in the regular absence of Thierry Henry. Considering his huge
experience - he's been capped 39 times by Brazil - being asked to
play alongside Arsenal's rookies appears to have come as a shock to
him.
He been linked with a possible January move to Valencia, who number
his former Gunners team-mate Edu among their players. He has just
this season and next left on his contract.
