Modern-day squad churn will mean that for many players, team-mates will often come and go with minimum fuss. Sometimes, though, a special bond is formed.
That was the case for former Arsenal midfielder Gilberto Silva, who forged a special bond with a former club and country colleague.
And as Arsenal continue to push for their first title in more than two decades, Gilberto believes that one of his former midfield contemporaries deserves much of the credit for their current upward trajectory.
Gilberto on his ‘brother’ Edu
Gilberto played alongside Edu for both Arsenal and Brazil, with the pair lining up together on 66 occasions between 2002 and 2005.
“Edu isn’t just a friend to me – he’s like a brother,” Gilberto tells FourFourTwo of his compatriot, who had returned to Arsenal in July 2019, initially as technical director.
Gilberto’s pride at seeing his friend transition from midfield metronome to the Emirates boardroom is clear, not least because of the size of that particular challenge at a club of Arsenal’s stature.
“What was always clear was that he worked in complete alignment with the club’s values and culture,” he continues, “Player recruitment was always about that – about finding players who understood the club’s DNA.”
When Edu returned to Arsenal in 2019, the club was still in a post-Wenger funk, searching for its identity.
“He arrived at a time when results were poor, pressure was immense and supporters were demanding answers,” Gilberto adds. “The team clearly needed rebuilding and that often brings friction, particularly when results don’t follow.
“But as the years passed and the club edged closer to a Premier League title challenge, the adjustments became far more targeted and far less drastic than at the start.
“His influence on what’s happening now is enormous, even though many of those decisions were made years ago.”
