Gilberto going?

[JakeN13]

We got 6 central midfielders..that's 1 or maybe even 2 too many and somebody should go. I'd rather keep Gilberto and let Song and Flamini leave but Denilson & Diaby are too exeptional talents to sell.

[Belfast Boy]

There have been rumours about Bertie leavin, and the fact that he has been rested while we are actually short in the middle of the park plus overlooked for the lead in his absence, in favour of a player who's only been at the club for a year has missed quite a few games and has been publicly critical of the club in the off-season, has done nothin to dispel them!
I'm sure it was Juve or some other Serie A club was actually prepared to pay pretty decent money for him, which as we all know AW will find hard to turn down for a player who'll be 31 before the year's out, but ya have to think that he wouldn't be so surprised about missin out on the armband if he knew he was only a couple of weeks away from the door, and it's bad enough findin out about about the captaincy from the website but surely he'd know if he was surplus......................................... wouldn't he???

[IW8Goalmachine]

wouldn't bame him for wanting to leave now. it was bad enough he didn't get the armband but the way he found out is an even bigger kick in the teeth. not a good way to treat a player who has given 110% for the club

[Rad]

This could all be massive speculation and another press story to undermine the Arsenal yet again! However, as I have said before on this site, Gilberto leaves us one player short in Midfield at home when we are faced with a nine man defence. His passing accuracy leaves a lot to be desired and he hasn't got the same type of player in Vieira around anymore who can get up and down the pitch leaving him to sweep up the pieces. The Premier League looks like it has made the Gilberto style of player redundant , with the likes of Makelele being replaced by more mobile and attacking players like Essien for example. Gilberto has done brilliant for us and if he stays great. If he doesn't it gives us a chance to slot in the Diaby's and Denilsons of this world. Gilberto did well last year but he scored about 7 pens out of his goal total. A scoring midfielder needs to get more goals from open play. Gilberto will never do that for us. Maybe it is best to cash in at this stage. He may be a quiet leader on the pitch but I'd ratehr see the TA type - pulling people into position and giving bollockings and praise equally.

[Magic Hat]

Don't forget about Diaby though lads?

Good strong player but he likes to attack, I doubt he would make a good holding player if we needed him to be one

[Rad]

Do we need a holding player though? You have to fit the system to the players you have. Petit and Vieira together were a great pairing but neither played the traditional holding role. With Diaby and Fabregas I can see a similar type pairing mixing it up with Denilson when necessary. If Gilberto is a long term injury we are left with Flamini in that role who didn't seem to perform as the holding player on Sunday and Song (don't go there!). Wenger's plans of having two players per position don't seem so good when you look at what's left behind Gilberto.

[augie]

If I'm honest Gilberto isn't my ideal choice of player for his position - I know he does a great job of shielding the back 4 but imo he doesnt break up enough opposition attacks with some strong crunching tackles(a la PV4) thus protecting cesc and allow him to do what he is best at. I do believe that Diaby has the potential to do that job and hope that he is given 1st crack at that position. Having said all that I believe that the club, and arsene wenger in particular, have treated him appalingly over the captaincy issue. It was bad enough having gallas get it ahead of him but for the manager or some club employee not to bother contacting him about it is a disgrace. It kinda makes a mockery of the whole arsenal way of doing things being a class above everybody else doesnt it ? I again worry about the lack of experience if he goes and wonder whether this is some kind of personal experiment for wenger to see how small a squad he can get by with and how many of them are "kids". I dont mind him being sold as such but without anybody experienced being brought in or worse still to allow us keep the "talents" that are flamini & song ? Doesnt bear thinking about does it ?

[Magic Hat]

I'm hoping Lansbury will enter the role sooner rather then later becuase yes, none of the other player fill me with delight in that role. Rad, look how badly we missed a lack of holding player against Fulham and look at how badly Liverpool missed a holding player when we beat them 3-0 and when Mach was subbed in the CL final. If we have a hole then the manager must fix it and I doubt Diaby, strong as he is, would the answer as it greatly limits his ability to attack with power and dribble, curbing him would be a bad thing for me. Petit perhaps was not a holding player but he would sit back, tackle and allow Veria to get forward, Flamini is only one who might have menatility to do it and doubt his ability.

Augie, I agree on the poor treatment of Gilbero but how many holding players go in hard? They prefer to sweep up or man mark someone, if we need muscle then we must either go 4-5-1 or drop a holding player for a Veria like man with the risks it gives the backline. I'm sure Arsene knows what he is doing, trust him,

[Drone]

Leaving him out of Captanity, with all means, is like showing him the door , i want be surprised if he leaves, also he is 30 so we dont get long with 30 , about replacing him is definitely imposible , but in some other way we have some good midfielders as well .

[daz10_uk]

Maybe my semi-reliable source was right after all. Im v disappointed