Gilberto is possibly the most atypical Brazilian imaginable. Historically maligned and praised in equal measure, he is a  player who has long divided opinion as to whether he should even control a first-team position let alone be regarded as one of the key members of an Arsenal squad. Cast your mind back to the occasions upon which a fair percentage of Arsenal fans were demanding that Gilberto’s countryman, Edu, partnered Patrick Vieira in the centre of our midfield (I myself confess to being one of those fans).

Following our ‘invincible’ season we began the 2004-05 campaign in fine style with a central midfield combination of Gilberto and Cesc Fabregas earning plaudits in the absence through injury of Vieira. Continuation of that praise was evidenced by how much we apparently missed his presence when ruled out with back problems that same season. Yet upon his return, and Vieira’s subsequent exit from the club, these plaudits transformed into disgruntlement as our form dipped and a lack of physical presence in midfield was exploited away from home by zesty opponents. Gilberto is noted as a causal factor and calls are made to replace him. Take any one from Carlos Mascherano, Didier Zokora, Nigel Reo-Coker, and Bouba Diop. Or Emanuel Onyerbikey, the 6ft 8in tank from Gambia. Nobody has seen him play, but he’s certainly big so he will do just nicely thank you very much.

And now? Now is it even possible to debate his importance to Arsenal; to Arsene Wenger’s vision of the current Arsenal side; to the young players within our squad? Over the preceding 18 months Gilberto has simply revelled in the alterations to Wenger’s philosophy as deficiencies in our squad have been exposed, and the concurrent transformations in formation that have ensued. In relation to performance this is perhaps best represented by our Champions League campaign last season. Consider the manner in which the big name, big-game players of Real Madrid and then Juventus were nullified. Naturally the emphasis is on team, but to put the context into a singular perspective, how about his brilliant shackling of Juan Roman Riquelme in the quarter-finals against Villareal? One of the worlds pre-eminent playmakers reduced to virtual anonymity. In that European 4-5-1 formation, aided with extra midfield support and with a more pragmatic style of play, Gilberto developed his role to perfection. Patrolling the space between the defence and his midfield counterparts, utilising his positional sense, anticipation and diligence to halt opposing attacks and ward off danger. I firmly believe he is one of the best in the world in this respect.

Yet this is old hat. Positional awareness and anticipation have always been attributes in Gilberto’s repertoire. I am more interested in those skills which appear to have developed drastically over the past year and a half; goalscoring and leadership. Considering the former, a return of seven strikes in 22 Premiership appearances this season is nothing short of sensational for a defensive-minded midfielder. Given the profligate nature of our three ball-technicians - Fabregas, Tomas Rosicky and Aleksandr Hleb - Gilberto’s goalscoring feats are even more of a fillip.

Those three players have the paltry sum of two Premiership goals between them, and their combined season-totals only match Gilberto with eight. Whilst that is as much an embarrassment to our three gifted ballplayers as it is a complement of the Brazilian, it is a certainty that he is developing a reputation for being ‘in the right place at the right time’. Much like Vieira, he tends to score upon a necessity. The strikes at home to Aston Villa, Blackburn and Portsmouth were all equalising goals, whereas the instantaneous strike at the Reebok after Anelka had put Bolton two-nil up kept us in the game and gave us hope of a second half comeback. His latest goal against Watford at Vicarage Road, illustrating that correct position tendency, put us ahead in a game that featured a far from cohesive team performance. The second penalty (or ‘gifts’ as I like to term them) in the derby game against Tottenham is the solitary strike which had minimal bearing on the result of a game.

The nature of his goals are related to that second attribute; leadership. Partly defined as the proficiency at changing a game as required and the ability to guide less-experienced team members. Of these merits I will provide three instances from his performance away to Watford to exemplify his progression as a player and character. Firstly, 18 minutes on the clock and a simple ball is played into Ashley Young who flicks past Johan Djourou, making him look like a pub defender in the process, and races in on goal from the right-hand of the penalty box.

Gilberto starts ten or 15 yards back from Young, and is not blessed with the pace of the Englishman, yet makes up the ground and blocks what looks like a certain goal with a superb last-ditch sliding tackle. He had little right to get back and make the block, it is his natural awareness that made it remotely possible. Watching the replay, he is moving instantaneously with Young collecting possession. And precisely one minute later? Arsenal are attacking with a corner which Rosicky whips in, Kolo Toure flicks on, and Gilberto has acutely drifted into five yards of space at the back post to net the opener. The reaction to the goal gave some indication as to the respect Gilberto now commands within the Arsenal dressing room.

What followed was a mediocre team performance, brightened by the competences of Gilberto, Philippe Senderos and one moment of inspiration from Robin Van Persie to put us ahead on 83 minutes. At this point all we need to do is retain our discipline against an impotent Watford offensive, who are working tirelessly and yet creating little. This juncture leads to Gilberto’s defining moment within the game.

A Watford player hits an aimless ball which Toure guards as Jens Lehmann comes to collect. Frustration takes precedence and Darius Henderson barges Toure over the oncoming Lehmann. A minor incident that requires no response, yet Senderos feels it is his duty to take exception and confronts Henderson. Gilberto rushes straight over and leads the Swiss away. Situation averted, composure and concentration retained, and we comfortably hold out for the victory. A true captain’s performance indeed.

On that note, the issue of captaincy is something of a thorny issue amongst Arsenal fans at this moment. Should Thierry Henry retain the armband despite his lack of natural leadership and a suggestion that it hinders his approach to a game, or does Arsene Wenger hand it to Gilberto permanently, a man of consummate composure and temperament, his discrepancy against Blackburn aside? Personally my feeling is one of apathy; I find the debate tedious and I think the chance of the captains armband being removed from Henry’s Gallic arm about as likely as Robbie Savage winning any fair-play awards.

I have always firmly believed that men with leadership qualities will lead regardless, and that the honour of the captaincy is merely symbolic. Are younger players any more likely to look to Gilberto for guidance merely because he has a piece of cloth attached to his arm? What I would like to stress, however, is that I do believe Gilberto as a player is somewhat transformed by that honour.

Perhaps it is simply a case that he is more of a noticeable figure as captain, and the in-game connotations this represents, but I often get the impression that he feels empowered by the captaincy. That he feels like he has more of a right to act upon situations during a game, whereas in the other instance he is subservient to the talismanic Henry. If I were pushed to provide an response, I think I would prefer to see the band handed to Gilberto long-term, freeing Henry to concentrate solely on his own game, without unnecessary hindrances. But then again…leaders will lead.

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