GILBERTO LAYS IT ON LINE
Arsenal captain Gilberto has called on his team-mates "not to relax for one minute" when they head to arch-rivals Tottenham looking to secure a top-four finish in the Barclays Premiership.
The Gunners beat Manchester City 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night to open up an eight-point gap on the chasing pack and take them, temporarily at least, above Liverpool into third.
After the trip to White Hart Lane on Saturday, there are two home games - against Fulham and title-chasing Chelsea - to come before the final match at Portsmouth.
The clash with City on Tuesday night had an end-of-season feel about it as both teams appeared to go through the motions at times.
Gilberto, though, knows there will be no such luxury afforded Arsenal in the 155th north London derby.
"I played there when we won the league in 2004 - and although many of the players have now left, the traditions of the match are still the same," said Gilberto, standing in for the injured Thierry Henry.
"We will need to keep our minds strong because this is the kind of game where you do not have time to relax for one minute.
"We know in the matches against Tottenham if we do not play at 100% then it will be difficult.
"It is important to keep our concentration high over all of the final four games."
Gilberto added: "Against City, it looked a bit strange. After our first goal, we relaxed a little bit.
"Sometimes we can play very nice football and draw or lose. Against City, we did not play our best, but got three points.
"We have been in transition and it has been so hard for us, there have been some bad times this year.
"But I really believe that for next season the young players in the squad will have grown in confidence and experience.
"They will be stronger than we have been in the last two years."
One young man key to Arsenal's future success is midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
The 19-year-old crashed in a stunning effort to spark a second-half revival last night - doubling his Premiership tally for the season having finally got off the mark against Bolton.
"I have not really played with a young player as good as he is," said Gilberto of the Spaniard, who is nominated for both the PFA Player of the Year awards this weekend.
"Ever since he came into the starting XI, he has done so well.
"He has a great quality in his passing and vision and now he is scoring goals as well.
"I have played alongside Patrick Vieira, who was a great player and one who was very experienced. Cesc has done so well to replace him.
"He has a lot of talent and although it takes time, he can be one of the best."
The future of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, 37, who was guilty of a mistake which led to City's equaliser on Tuesday night, is expected to be resolved imminently. More
The Gunners beat Manchester City 3-1 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night to open up an eight-point gap on the chasing pack and take them, temporarily at least, above Liverpool into third.
After the trip to White Hart Lane on Saturday, there are two home games - against Fulham and title-chasing Chelsea - to come before the final match at Portsmouth.
The clash with City on Tuesday night had an end-of-season feel about it as both teams appeared to go through the motions at times.
Gilberto, though, knows there will be no such luxury afforded Arsenal in the 155th north London derby.
"I played there when we won the league in 2004 - and although many of the players have now left, the traditions of the match are still the same," said Gilberto, standing in for the injured Thierry Henry.
"We will need to keep our minds strong because this is the kind of game where you do not have time to relax for one minute.
"We know in the matches against Tottenham if we do not play at 100% then it will be difficult.
"It is important to keep our concentration high over all of the final four games."
Gilberto added: "Against City, it looked a bit strange. After our first goal, we relaxed a little bit.
"Sometimes we can play very nice football and draw or lose. Against City, we did not play our best, but got three points.
"We have been in transition and it has been so hard for us, there have been some bad times this year.
"But I really believe that for next season the young players in the squad will have grown in confidence and experience.
"They will be stronger than we have been in the last two years."
One young man key to Arsenal's future success is midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
The 19-year-old crashed in a stunning effort to spark a second-half revival last night - doubling his Premiership tally for the season having finally got off the mark against Bolton.
"I have not really played with a young player as good as he is," said Gilberto of the Spaniard, who is nominated for both the PFA Player of the Year awards this weekend.
"Ever since he came into the starting XI, he has done so well.
"He has a great quality in his passing and vision and now he is scoring goals as well.
"I have played alongside Patrick Vieira, who was a great player and one who was very experienced. Cesc has done so well to replace him.
"He has a lot of talent and although it takes time, he can be one of the best."
The future of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, 37, who was guilty of a mistake which led to City's equaliser on Tuesday night, is expected to be resolved imminently. More
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