Gilberto - I am staying here to fight for my place
Gilberto has confirmed his commitment to Arsenal and has scotched suggestions he refused to play for the Club as a centre back.
The Brazilian operated in his usual midfield role as Arsène Wenger’s side brought back a deserved yet dour point back from Slavia Prague. It was a relatively rare starting berth as Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini have been keeping him out of side for most of the current campaign.
Last week, media reports suggested the 31-year-old was unhappy with his situation, had told his manager he would not play at the heart of the defence and was considering quitting Arsenal after five great years in north London. Judging by his words in the Czech capital they were well wide of the mark.
“It's not true,” he said. “If I have said something to Arsène it would never come out in the papers. I would go to him and speak to him face-to-face; we have great respect for each other.
“The only thing I can say is this is not true. Everyone knows I'm not 100 per cent happy to be on the bench, that's normal. But I'm being professional and doing my job. I respect everybody in the squad, I respect him and I respect his decision. It's the only thing I can do.
“I am not thinking about leaving now. I've said that I'm happy at the Club. Of course my situation is not very comfortable on the bench. But I'm still not thinking about leaving the Club. I prefer to think that I have the condition to get back in the team. I will do my job, do my best to achieve that. This is what I have in mind.”
In fact, the Brazilian would contemplate renewing his deal when it runs out in 18 months’ time.
“I don't know,” he said “That's not just down to me. It would be great if I could extend my contract with the Club and finish my career here. But I need to see if the Club has the same feeling and it wants the same thing as I want.”
For now, Gilberto is ‘digging in’ and waiting for his chance. The former Atletico Mineiro man is one of the few players still remaining from the “Invincibles” side of 2004, that experience will surely be called upon later this season if Arsenal turn out to be serious title contenders.
“Everybody knows January is very hard,” he said. “But it is important for us to maintain the way we are playing. It doesn't matter who plays. If we go on in the competition maybe we will face some problems like we faced in the last few seasons, where there are people injured or suspended. And the players who come in must play at the same level as the team is playing at the moment.” |
發表於 2007-11-8 08:58 PM
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