As we head to the October international break, the Premier League title race is shaping up to be a hot one. Liverpool are leading the pack with 18 points from seven games with both Manchester City and Arsenal breathing down their neck. The Citizens and the Gunners have amassed 17 points each but are yet to taste defeat – something that Liverpool had to contend with when they hosted Nottingham Forest in September.
We got a few words with Arsenal invincible Gilberto Silva who gave his thoughts on the Gunners’ title race and why he believes this has to be the year for them to grab the league title from Man City’s hands.
‘In my view, Arsenal need to win the league title this year’
The Brazilian midfielder had his fair share of title runs against Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United. The current Arsenal team, in his view, are more mature and have even surpassed Liverpool to become closer challengers to City.
“I believe so. They have all the conditions. They have been fighting with them for two years, right? In a way, they have gotten ahead of Liverpool in this dispute. Last year it was very close and perhaps even within the planning they had been doing since Arteta arrived. They managed to get ahead of the project, with the work and dedication of everyone.”
That being said, the Arsenal ‘invincible’ feels the time is ripe for the Gunners to win the league title this season. He adds that the squad needs to do that because it will be the defining statement of the work they’ve done over the last few years to be in this situation.
“And I believe that now this year, in my view, they need to (achieve something). I think that perhaps even as a statement of work on the part of the club itself, I see it as a year of achievement. The time has come, right?”
Arsenal cannot make mistakes against mid and lower table teams
While Gilberto Silva points out that the Gunners are in a stronger position than in previous years, having matured, he also reiterates that they cannot make the same mistakes that they made last season. That is, dropping points against mid-table and bottom half teams.
“I think that the team today is very mature, structured. When we look at the Arsenal team, the players, the team, the formation, the balance between the sectors is very well defined. It is important to go far.
“The signings that have been coming in have been important, with results, this also makes the whole job easier. It’s not just about hiring, you need to hire athletes who come in and wear the shirt and deliver results for a team like Arsenal.
“It won’t be easy, again. It is important to learn from past mistakes. In the last two seasons, they made crucial mistakes against smaller and mid-table teams, especially at home. They have to do this homework very well this season.”
Mikel Arteta’s work will yield trophies
The 2002 World Cup winner and former Arsenal captain was full of praise for Mikel Arteta. Gilberto Silva praised Arteta’s work and how he answered his critics by making Arsenal a force to be reckoned with. The Brazilian believes that Arteta’s great work will yield trophies for the Gunners.
“He arrived with some suspicion, but it has worked out very well so far. He is young, but the gamble paid off. He has the confidence that the management has given him to play his role. He has grown year after year and the media and fans already respect him.
“He is competing and beating giants, managing to raise the level of the game. He has a lot of merit in what Arsenal has been doing. Inevitably, an achievement will happen to value everything that has been done.”
Gilberto also shared his personal observations about Arteta, having met him on the club’s pre-season tour in the United States. The Brazilian remarked that Arteta is very serious and focused about his work and one of the best things about him is the willingness to listen and set up a team that works daily to help Arsenal reach the top of the pyramid again.
“He is very serious, works hard and is focused. He is also humble enough to learn and listen to people. He has managed to put together a team of people who help each other on a daily basis and build this entire process of growth for Arsenal.”
