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Ever since the flamboyent Frenchman Emmanuel Petit left the of Highbury for the Sun, Sea and Money of Barcelona, ending his long-term 'relationship' with Patrick Vieira in the heart of Arsenal's midfield, Vieira himself, along with the help of Manager Arséne Wenger has been searching for a new partner he would feel happy to spend the rest of his life with... at Highbury, of course.
So many things have been done to try and plug this 'hole' in the midfield.
We've seen the likes of Parlour and Ljungberg shuffled around like a pack of Cards where they end-up playing like the 'Jokers' of the pack. We've also seen a few new faces arrive at Highbury too, including Edu. But they have still failed to have proven themselves as 'Petit Material'.
But after a succesfull World Cup that saw both his-self and his country Brazil lift the World Cup itself, Gilberto Silva (now known as just 'Gilberto') arrived from Brazil in-search of success with the Gunners who were on their way to retain the Premiership to make it 2 Titles in 2 Seasons.
For a Brazillian international, prior to the 2002 World Cup, we honestly didn't even have the foggiest as to who thise guy really was. But once we'd seen him play a few times for his country, even if he wasn't a regular like Rivaldo, he was still rather impressive, one of the surprising stars of the tournament.
As for his Arsenal career which has so-far spanned only 2 months... you can't really say a lot less - if any less - about him than what's been said regarding his performances in Japan and South Korea.
What better way is there for a new boy to start his career with the Premiership Champions than to score on the only goal (and a 'classy' one too) at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, against one of the big contenders to challenge the Gooners for the Crown; Liverpool. It may not have been Man United with their David Beckhamss and Ruud van Nistelrooys, but for a side packed with star players like Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, aswell as new signings like fellow World Cup Star El-Hadji Diouff of Senegal, you wouldn't want to make a fresh, new begining by Kicking-Off against Liverpool!
But the boy done good - and not just because of his goal.
His impressive performance in the Community Shield (or whatever they want to call it now!) was thought to have been just a 'one-off' by many Football fans or all Premiership sides. But the 'Boy from Brazil' has proved them all wrong, as he's adapted to the fast-pace of the Premiership along with the big reputation that comes with the name Arsenal (for the moment, anyway ;) ), and he has helped the Reigning Champions to have continued their long-run without defeat while the club have also still managed to maintain a record that means they have scored at least 1 goal in every-single one game in this extraordinary run that we United and Liverpool fans fear may never end!
And while Arsenal are sitting mighty-high ontop of the pile in the league, their form in Europe has been something to take-note on too. Top-draw football is something we now expect to see in all of Arsenal's Home and Away fixtures, and it's all down to the fact that this is one team that can work exceptionally well together, and Gilberto plays a huge-part in that - even if he isn't French like the rest-of-'em.
Without him in their side, the midfield would have struggled to keep-up in those bigger games the Gunners have already faced this season, forcing too-much pressure onto the backline as they begin to crack. Because he has managed to 'gel' with Vieira to form such a great partnership in the center there - and in such a short-time too - Arsenal's defenders can feel that extra bit 'secure' as they have one of the world's finest Central-Midfield partnerships just ahead of them. And some people have even suggested that this is working-out to be better than Petit and Vieira!
What do you Arsenal fans think??
Last night, Arsenal weren't exactly... 'on-form'. They played ok with a strong-side, but they just didn't look like the team we've seen in the Premiership alone this season.
But even when things weren't working, and Pires was still watching from the side-lines, Gilberto was there as-loyal as-ever, and indeed, he got the goal that gave Arsenal the 3 points they need in-order to make their life a lot easier when it comes down-to those final 3 Group matches left-over before they are safely through to the next Fase of the Champions' League - something that looks 'innevitable'.
While Arsenal may have been without Swedish Sensation Freddie Ljungberg for the first few weeks of the new campaign and while Pires may still be recovering as their midfield appears to be 'leaking' at-times, Gilberto has come in to make all-the-difference and plug the gaping-hole that was left by trailing locks of Manu Petit's golden hair.
Whose to say Arsenal cannot go-on to retain the Premiership this season at-least?
Can anyone really put a stop to them??
And after a good-start in the Champions' League; can they really go all-the-way???
I don't know about all that, but I can see how Gilberto's arrival has helped them to make a flawless start all-over, and they do look to be well on-their-way already.
Eugh! Once again I find myself praising a Gooner who looks set to help the Title stay well-away from Old Trafford for the second year running! :S
But he deserves it - and it's not just because he's Brazillian!
So many things have been done to try and plug this 'hole' in the midfield.
We've seen the likes of Parlour and Ljungberg shuffled around like a pack of Cards where they end-up playing like the 'Jokers' of the pack. We've also seen a few new faces arrive at Highbury too, including Edu. But they have still failed to have proven themselves as 'Petit Material'.
But after a succesfull World Cup that saw both his-self and his country Brazil lift the World Cup itself, Gilberto Silva (now known as just 'Gilberto') arrived from Brazil in-search of success with the Gunners who were on their way to retain the Premiership to make it 2 Titles in 2 Seasons.
For a Brazillian international, prior to the 2002 World Cup, we honestly didn't even have the foggiest as to who thise guy really was. But once we'd seen him play a few times for his country, even if he wasn't a regular like Rivaldo, he was still rather impressive, one of the surprising stars of the tournament.
As for his Arsenal career which has so-far spanned only 2 months... you can't really say a lot less - if any less - about him than what's been said regarding his performances in Japan and South Korea.
What better way is there for a new boy to start his career with the Premiership Champions than to score on the only goal (and a 'classy' one too) at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, against one of the big contenders to challenge the Gooners for the Crown; Liverpool. It may not have been Man United with their David Beckhamss and Ruud van Nistelrooys, but for a side packed with star players like Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, aswell as new signings like fellow World Cup Star El-Hadji Diouff of Senegal, you wouldn't want to make a fresh, new begining by Kicking-Off against Liverpool!
But the boy done good - and not just because of his goal.
His impressive performance in the Community Shield (or whatever they want to call it now!) was thought to have been just a 'one-off' by many Football fans or all Premiership sides. But the 'Boy from Brazil' has proved them all wrong, as he's adapted to the fast-pace of the Premiership along with the big reputation that comes with the name Arsenal (for the moment, anyway ;) ), and he has helped the Reigning Champions to have continued their long-run without defeat while the club have also still managed to maintain a record that means they have scored at least 1 goal in every-single one game in this extraordinary run that we United and Liverpool fans fear may never end!
And while Arsenal are sitting mighty-high ontop of the pile in the league, their form in Europe has been something to take-note on too. Top-draw football is something we now expect to see in all of Arsenal's Home and Away fixtures, and it's all down to the fact that this is one team that can work exceptionally well together, and Gilberto plays a huge-part in that - even if he isn't French like the rest-of-'em.
Without him in their side, the midfield would have struggled to keep-up in those bigger games the Gunners have already faced this season, forcing too-much pressure onto the backline as they begin to crack. Because he has managed to 'gel' with Vieira to form such a great partnership in the center there - and in such a short-time too - Arsenal's defenders can feel that extra bit 'secure' as they have one of the world's finest Central-Midfield partnerships just ahead of them. And some people have even suggested that this is working-out to be better than Petit and Vieira!
What do you Arsenal fans think??
Last night, Arsenal weren't exactly... 'on-form'. They played ok with a strong-side, but they just didn't look like the team we've seen in the Premiership alone this season.
But even when things weren't working, and Pires was still watching from the side-lines, Gilberto was there as-loyal as-ever, and indeed, he got the goal that gave Arsenal the 3 points they need in-order to make their life a lot easier when it comes down-to those final 3 Group matches left-over before they are safely through to the next Fase of the Champions' League - something that looks 'innevitable'.
While Arsenal may have been without Swedish Sensation Freddie Ljungberg for the first few weeks of the new campaign and while Pires may still be recovering as their midfield appears to be 'leaking' at-times, Gilberto has come in to make all-the-difference and plug the gaping-hole that was left by trailing locks of Manu Petit's golden hair.
Whose to say Arsenal cannot go-on to retain the Premiership this season at-least?
Can anyone really put a stop to them??
And after a good-start in the Champions' League; can they really go all-the-way???
I don't know about all that, but I can see how Gilberto's arrival has helped them to make a flawless start all-over, and they do look to be well on-their-way already.
Eugh! Once again I find myself praising a Gooner who looks set to help the Title stay well-away from Old Trafford for the second year running! :S
But he deserves it - and it's not just because he's Brazillian!
HA! We're gunna need a MIRACLE in-order to beat Arsenal looking at the way things are currently going!
A few more players indeed!
Maybe we should get a load of French players? Arsenal seem to struggle slightly against them - like in the Bordeaux game...
Whatever happened to all those French defenders Fergie was 'set to sign' anyway?? Phillipe Mexes, Phillipe Christanval, Martin Djetou.... the list goes on.
What Managers are going to have to do to stop Arsenal is get their teams to work together and play together aswell as Arsenal's 11 do week-in week-out right now. They'll need to bring-in players that CAN work-well together, and kick-out the ones who are too 'individual'.
And that may only mean they can match Arsenal, while they may need something extra in-order to beat them.
A few more players indeed!
Maybe we should get a load of French players? Arsenal seem to struggle slightly against them - like in the Bordeaux game...
Whatever happened to all those French defenders Fergie was 'set to sign' anyway?? Phillipe Mexes, Phillipe Christanval, Martin Djetou.... the list goes on.
What Managers are going to have to do to stop Arsenal is get their teams to work together and play together aswell as Arsenal's 11 do week-in week-out right now. They'll need to bring-in players that CAN work-well together, and kick-out the ones who are too 'individual'.
And that may only mean they can match Arsenal, while they may need something extra in-order to beat them.
indeed. I pipped Man U to bounce back and reclaim the title this season, but that's before I had an in-depth look at the Arsenal squad. Roll on January, we need a few more players methinks!
Ever since the flamboyent Frenchman Emmanuel Petit left the of Highbury for the Sun, Sea and Money of Barcelona, ending his long-term 'relationship' with Patrick Vieira in the heart of Arsenal's midfield, Vieira himself, along with the help of Manager Arséne Wenger has been searching for a new partner he would feel happy to spend the rest of his life with... at Highbury, of course.
So many things have been done to try and plug this 'hole' in the midfield.
We've seen the likes of Parlour and Ljungberg shuffled around like a pack of Cards where they end-up playing like the 'Jokers' of the pack. We've also seen a few new faces arrive at Highbury too, including Edu. But they have still failed to have proven themselves as 'Petit Material'.
But after a succesfull World Cup that saw both his-self and his country Brazil lift the World Cup itself, Gilberto Silva (now known as just 'Gilberto') arrived from Brazil in-search of success with the Gunners who were on their way to retain the Premiership to make it 2 Titles in 2 Seasons.
For a Brazillian international, prior to the 2002 World Cup, we honestly didn't even have the foggiest as to who thise guy really was. But once we'd seen him play a few times for his country, even if he wasn't a regular like Rivaldo, he was still rather impressive, one of the surprising stars of the tournament.
As for his Arsenal career which has so-far spanned only 2 months... you can't really say a lot less - if any less - about him than what's been said regarding his performances in Japan and South Korea.
What better way is there for a new boy to start his career with the Premiership Champions than to score on the only goal (and a 'classy' one too) at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, against one of the big contenders to challenge the Gooners for the Crown; Liverpool. It may not have been Man United with their David Beckhamss and Ruud van Nistelrooys, but for a side packed with star players like Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, aswell as new signings like fellow World Cup Star El-Hadji Diouff of Senegal, you wouldn't want to make a fresh, new begining by Kicking-Off against Liverpool!
But the boy done good - and not just because of his goal.
His impressive performance in the Community Shield (or whatever they want to call it now!) was thought to have been just a 'one-off' by many Football fans or all Premiership sides. But the 'Boy from Brazil' has proved them all wrong, as he's adapted to the fast-pace of the Premiership along with the big reputation that comes with the name Arsenal (for the moment, anyway ;) ), and he has helped the Reigning Champions to have continued their long-run without defeat while the club have also still managed to maintain a record that means they have scored at least 1 goal in every-single one game in this extraordinary run that we United and Liverpool fans fear may never end!
And while Arsenal are sitting mighty-high ontop of the pile in the league, their form in Europe has been something to take-note on too. Top-draw football is something we now expect to see in all of Arsenal's Home and Away fixtures, and it's all down to the fact that this is one team that can work exceptionally well together, and Gilberto plays a huge-part in that - even if he isn't French like the rest-of-'em.
Without him in their side, the midfield would have struggled to keep-up in those bigger games the Gunners have already faced this season, forcing too-much pressure onto the backline as they begin to crack. Because he has managed to 'gel' with Vieira to form such a great partnership in the center there - and in such a short-time too - Arsenal's defenders can feel that extra bit 'secure' as they have one of the world's finest Central-Midfield partnerships just ahead of them. And some people have even suggested that this is working-out to be better than Petit and Vieira!
What do you Arsenal fans think??
Last night, Arsenal weren't exactly... 'on-form'. They played ok with a strong-side, but they just didn't look like the team we've seen in the Premiership alone this season.
But even when things weren't working, and Pires was still watching from the side-lines, Gilberto was there as-loyal as-ever, and indeed, he got the goal that gave Arsenal the 3 points they need in-order to make their life a lot easier when it comes down-to those final 3 Group matches left-over before they are safely through to the next Fase of the Champions' League - something that looks 'innevitable'.
While Arsenal may have been without Swedish Sensation Freddie Ljungberg for the first few weeks of the new campaign and while Pires may still be recovering as their midfield appears to be 'leaking' at-times, Gilberto has come in to make all-the-difference and plug the gaping-hole that was left by trailing locks of Manu Petit's golden hair.
Whose to say Arsenal cannot go-on to retain the Premiership this season at-least?
Can anyone really put a stop to them??
And after a good-start in the Champions' League; can they really go all-the-way???
I don't know about all that, but I can see how Gilberto's arrival has helped them to make a flawless start all-over, and they do look to be well on-their-way already.
Eugh! Once again I find myself praising a Gooner who looks set to help the Title stay well-away from Old Trafford for the second year running! :S
But he deserves it - and it's not just because he's Brazillian!
So many things have been done to try and plug this 'hole' in the midfield.
We've seen the likes of Parlour and Ljungberg shuffled around like a pack of Cards where they end-up playing like the 'Jokers' of the pack. We've also seen a few new faces arrive at Highbury too, including Edu. But they have still failed to have proven themselves as 'Petit Material'.
But after a succesfull World Cup that saw both his-self and his country Brazil lift the World Cup itself, Gilberto Silva (now known as just 'Gilberto') arrived from Brazil in-search of success with the Gunners who were on their way to retain the Premiership to make it 2 Titles in 2 Seasons.
For a Brazillian international, prior to the 2002 World Cup, we honestly didn't even have the foggiest as to who thise guy really was. But once we'd seen him play a few times for his country, even if he wasn't a regular like Rivaldo, he was still rather impressive, one of the surprising stars of the tournament.
As for his Arsenal career which has so-far spanned only 2 months... you can't really say a lot less - if any less - about him than what's been said regarding his performances in Japan and South Korea.
What better way is there for a new boy to start his career with the Premiership Champions than to score on the only goal (and a 'classy' one too) at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium, against one of the big contenders to challenge the Gooners for the Crown; Liverpool. It may not have been Man United with their David Beckhamss and Ruud van Nistelrooys, but for a side packed with star players like Michael Owen and Steven Gerrard, aswell as new signings like fellow World Cup Star El-Hadji Diouff of Senegal, you wouldn't want to make a fresh, new begining by Kicking-Off against Liverpool!
But the boy done good - and not just because of his goal.
His impressive performance in the Community Shield (or whatever they want to call it now!) was thought to have been just a 'one-off' by many Football fans or all Premiership sides. But the 'Boy from Brazil' has proved them all wrong, as he's adapted to the fast-pace of the Premiership along with the big reputation that comes with the name Arsenal (for the moment, anyway ;) ), and he has helped the Reigning Champions to have continued their long-run without defeat while the club have also still managed to maintain a record that means they have scored at least 1 goal in every-single one game in this extraordinary run that we United and Liverpool fans fear may never end!
And while Arsenal are sitting mighty-high ontop of the pile in the league, their form in Europe has been something to take-note on too. Top-draw football is something we now expect to see in all of Arsenal's Home and Away fixtures, and it's all down to the fact that this is one team that can work exceptionally well together, and Gilberto plays a huge-part in that - even if he isn't French like the rest-of-'em.
Without him in their side, the midfield would have struggled to keep-up in those bigger games the Gunners have already faced this season, forcing too-much pressure onto the backline as they begin to crack. Because he has managed to 'gel' with Vieira to form such a great partnership in the center there - and in such a short-time too - Arsenal's defenders can feel that extra bit 'secure' as they have one of the world's finest Central-Midfield partnerships just ahead of them. And some people have even suggested that this is working-out to be better than Petit and Vieira!
What do you Arsenal fans think??
Last night, Arsenal weren't exactly... 'on-form'. They played ok with a strong-side, but they just didn't look like the team we've seen in the Premiership alone this season.
But even when things weren't working, and Pires was still watching from the side-lines, Gilberto was there as-loyal as-ever, and indeed, he got the goal that gave Arsenal the 3 points they need in-order to make their life a lot easier when it comes down-to those final 3 Group matches left-over before they are safely through to the next Fase of the Champions' League - something that looks 'innevitable'.
While Arsenal may have been without Swedish Sensation Freddie Ljungberg for the first few weeks of the new campaign and while Pires may still be recovering as their midfield appears to be 'leaking' at-times, Gilberto has come in to make all-the-difference and plug the gaping-hole that was left by trailing locks of Manu Petit's golden hair.
Whose to say Arsenal cannot go-on to retain the Premiership this season at-least?
Can anyone really put a stop to them??
And after a good-start in the Champions' League; can they really go all-the-way???
I don't know about all that, but I can see how Gilberto's arrival has helped them to make a flawless start all-over, and they do look to be well on-their-way already.
Eugh! Once again I find myself praising a Gooner who looks set to help the Title stay well-away from Old Trafford for the second year running! :S
But he deserves it - and it's not just because he's Brazillian!