Vieira was a fantastic leader, says Gilberto

After falling 20 points behind Chelsea last Sunday, Ars?ne Wenger conceded the Premier League title, but Gilberto Silva believes all hope was lost the moment Patrick Vieira left the club last summer. All he wants for Christmas is to turn back time.

Wenger continues to insist that he was right to sell Vieira to Juventus, but players tell a different story. Deprived of their captain colossus, Arsenal have looked a shadow of their former selves, collapsing to defeats where previously they powered to victory, particularly away from home, where they have collected five points all season.

Gilberto has felt his loss more than most. With Francesc F?bregas and Mathieu Flamini alongside him, the 29-year-old is the one senior player in the centre of midfield and admits that he initially viewed Vieira’s departure as a bad dream.

“We struggled a bit at the beginning of the season and Patrick’s departure had a big impact on us,” Gilberto said. “I think we worried a bit too much about his departure and when we woke up we had lost some games and it was very difficult for us to win the league.

“I think it caused a big impact because no one expected him to leave. We didn’t realise he had definitely gone and then carried on without him. Patrick was a fantastic leader for us and when he left, it was difficult for us to accept his decision.

“Of course we respected that, but it was very difficult when we came to the training ground and Patrick was not here. It was different, as we had been together for three years. But certain things happen in football that you have to accept. It’s life. We need to carry on and play without him and support the young players and be together all the time.”

Wenger has shown considerable faith in the club’s talented youngsters, though Gilberto fears many of them lack sufficient belief in themselves. Arsenal are enduring their worst league run under the Frenchman, suffering three successive defeats for the first time in his stewardship, and Gilberto believes that their problems are psychological.

Even the night after sparing his side’s blushes against Doncaster Rovers in the Carling Cup, Gilberto seemed down, reflecting the discontent at the club.

“We need to believe in ourselves,” he said. “It’s quite frustrating for us because in a couple of games it doesn’t work like we train. When it doesn’t come it’s more psychological than technical.

“Everyone knows it is not our best moment. Since I’ve been here we’ve never had results like this, three consecutive defeats in a short period of time. It gets you a little bit down. You need to do something more to what you normally do. To talk with the players on the pitch or outside.

“When you have results like we have, you feel a little bit down and then you see the other team in front of you. It is difficult to find the problem.”

Wenger appears reluctant to search for solutions in the transfer market, but Gilberto is adamant that the squad needs to be strengthened during the January transfer window. Having watched his teammates overpowered by Michael Essien and Claude Makelele last Sunday, he believes that Arsenal’s midfield is in most need of reinforcing.

“I think you need a really strong squad. It’s not the 11 players but the squad needs to be strong,” Gilberto said.