SILVA GETS ARSENAL ARMBAND

Brazil midfielder Gilberto Silva has been officially appointed as the new Arsenal captain.



The 30-year-old succeeds the departed Thierry Henry in the role and was vice captain last season, with him often leading the team as Henry spent much of the campaign on the sidelines through injury.



Experienced defenders William Gallas and Ivory Coast's Kolo Toure have been handed the joint role of vice-captain.



Gallas will lead the side out for Sunday's Premier League opener against Fulham with Silva being absent from the team due to his involvement in the Copa America.

Gilberto, who has been linked with Juventus, has spent five years with the Gunners after joining from Atletico Mineiro.

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BRUCE CHASES MIDO BUT NOT FLAMINI

Steve Bruce has revived his interest in Tottenham striker Mido, but has ruled out Mathieu Flamini joining Birmingham.

Blues had been thought to have ended any interest in Mido after contract negotiations stalled between the two parties last month.

Spurs had given Birmingham permission to talk to the Egyptian international after a £6million deal was agreed.

Since his move to St Andrews fell through, Sunderland and Fulham have been tipped to launch a bid to sign Mido.

But Bruce has returned for the 24-year-old and he is still hopeful of bringing the front-man in before the transfer window closes.

"To be fair to the player it was never really about personal terms, it was issues over lengths of contracts and one or two other things," Bruce told Sky Sports News.

"Those seem to have been ironed out so, if talks are ongoing again, then great.

"We made the best offer we possibly can to the player. We will see what happens. We will probably have to go through the rigmarole again on the possible transfer.

"We have to negotiate with Spurs but that seems to be ongoing.

"With any deal you would like the player to make his mind up but it was never about personal terms. I have to put that on the record.

"It will be a permanent transfer if it happens. That's where it got clouded initially.

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