Interview

‘When we got into the tunnel, we knew we’d win’

A £4.5 million signing from Atletico Mineiro in 2002, Gilberto was a key member of the Invincibles, and saw the club make the historic move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium.

The former Brazil international won two FA Cups in his time with us, along with the Premier League title in 2004, and he fondly remembers the feeling of being a Gunner at our old home.

“I think we have many special moments from that experience,” Gilberto told Arsenal Player. “And it was so nice for me, when we got into Highbury tunnel, cold tunnel, very narrow and close to the opponents, it’s like almost shoulder to shoulder and we knew that we were going to win the game in that tunnel.

“And then another special moment I can say that was when we won the league at White Hart Lane, it was something very special because we had four games to go, but to win the title there it means a lot for all the players, for the fans, for the club because they also had a very good game. 

“You know, maybe the game could be much easier for us, at some points we complicated ourselves, but in the end we got the prize to win that.”