Gilberto Silva played 244 times for Arsenal between 2002-2008 and was part of Arsene Wenger’s Invincibles side that won the 2003/04 Premier League.
The Brazilian joined Arsenal from Atletico Mineiro in August 2002 having won the World Cup that summer. He made an instant impact, scoring the winner on his debut as Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 to lift the 2002 Charity Shield.
Gilberto also got Arsenal’s fastest-ever Champions League goal, scoring after only 20.07 seconds in a 4-0 win at PSV in September 2002. And Gilberto won the 2003 FA Cup as Robert Pires’ goal handed Arsenal a 1-0 victory over Southampton at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
Mikel Arteta is now hoping to replicate those glory years and guide Arsenal to their first title in 20 years.
“It won’t be easy,” admitted Gilberto, who scored four times as Arsenal went unbeaten in the Premier League in 2003/04. “But I do think Arsenal can win the Premier League.
“Last year they came so close. I was very sad for them. I know what it’s like to come close to success then lose. I had it in the 2006 Champions League Final [which Arsenal lost 2-1 to Barcelona in Paris].
“Arsenal has a very good team right now, and there is a hunger to win. When I speak to Edu that’s always clear. So now they need a big effort because it’s not going to be easy to finish above Liverpool and Manchester City.”
Arsenal currently lead the Premier League on goal difference having scored an astonishing 33 times in 2024. And after the international break, they face a potentially season-defining fixture away at third-placed Manchester City on March 31.
“These types of games are the ones football players relish,” said Gilberto. “You need to raise your game and focus. Most players like this. Arsenal has a great opportunity in front of them.”
Key to Arsenal’s success this season has been £105m record signing Declan Rice, who joined from West Ham last summer. The England midfielder has played in every Premier League game so far and scored six times – a career high for a single season.
Rice has improved his progressive passing over the past few seasons, whilst Arteta always felt he had stronger offensive output in him compared to his West Ham numbers.
Gilberto had his own offensive spurt in 2006/07, scoring 10 Premier League goals and finishing as Arsenal’s second-highest league scorer,…
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