Gilberto: Arsenal is the only one for me
by Mairianne Reardon, 12 May 2008
Veteran midfielder Gilberto Silva wants to see out his footballing career at Arsenal and is hoping Arsene Wenger feels the same, he said on Monday.
The 31-year-old has had a good run in the first team over the final few matches, and with Mathieu Flamini deserting The Gunners and speculation over whether winger Alexander Hleb’s itchy feet will walk him to Inter Milan, Wenger could want to nail down as many of the old guard as he can.
Gilberto joined Arsenal in 2002 for a fee of £4.5 million and has won The Premier League with The Gunners in 2004 and two FA Cup trophies.
This season, although initially promising, failed to produce any silverware. But Silva is adamant he wants to stay at the Emirates.
“Maybe in the next few days we will sit down and see what will happen with my future,” the Brazil captain told Arsenal TV Online.
“Arsene has my number and I have his number, and I can come back [to London after holidaying in Brazil] and solve the situation, but I have still got one more year on my contract.
“I have always expressed the desire to stay here to the end of my career. If that happens, it would be fantastic.
“I have been here six seasons now and it has all been amazing.
“I would be very happy to stay here and then discuss another contract to the end of my career.”
Wenger, however, is already concentrating on signing some fresh faces, indicating on Friday that he expects to land his first choices within the next two to three weeks.