Gilberto Silva says there are two current Arsenal players who would’ve started for The Invincibles

The legacy of Arsenal’s Invincibles remains untouched in the annals of football history a monument to perfection in a sport where flaws and defeats are expected inevitabilities the 2003/04 Premier League season stands as the crowning achievement of Arsène Wenger’s revolutionary tenure at Arsenal Football Club the squad assembled for that historic campaign has become mythologized in football culture with names like Thierry Henry Patrick Vieira Dennis Bergkamp and Sol Campbell achieving legendary status their unbeaten run of thirty-eight matches yielding twenty-six victories and twelve draws represents the pinnacle of consistency and excellence in English football the team possessed a rare blend of technical brilliance physical dominance tactical sophistication and mental fortitude that allowed them to navigate an entire season without experiencing the bitter taste of defeat this remarkable achievement has established an almost insurmountable benchmark against which all subsequent Arsenal teams have been measured and found wanting in the intervening years since the Invincibles etched their names in football folklore Arsenal has experienced significant fluctuations in fortune the departures of key players and Wenger himself coupled with transitions in ownership and philosophy saw the club’s competitive standing diminish relative to their domestic rivals the post-Invincibles era has been characterized by occasional cup successes interspersed with periods of frustration and rebuilding many talented players have graced the Emirates Stadium pitch yet few have been considered worthy of comparison to the giants of that golden generation

The question of which current Arsenal players might have forced their way into the Invincibles starting eleven has remained largely academic with most observers believing that squad to be sacrosanct and impenetrable however the recent resurgence of Arsenal under Mikel Arteta has reignited this intriguing debate as the Gunners have reestablished themselves as genuine title contenders the quality within the current squad has prompted reassessment of how these contemporary stars might fare alongside the legends of 2004 while Arsenal narrowly missed out on Premier League glory in recent campaigns the technical excellence and competitive spirit displayed by Arteta’s team has drawn favorable comparisons with Wenger’s finest sides the team’s development under Arteta’s stewardship featuring a blend of homegrown talent and astute acquisitions has restored Arsenal’s reputation for playing attractive progressive football while maintaining defensive solidity this renaissance has reopened the conversation about individual player comparisons across different eras of Arsenal’s history

Into this discourse steps Gilberto Silva a pivotal figure in the Invincibles team and someone uniquely qualified to offer perspective on this hypothetical scenario the Brazilian midfielder known affectionately as the “Invisible Wall” provided the defensive foundation that enabled the more flamboyant attacking talents to flourish during that historic campaign his contribution while often overshadowed by more celebrated teammates was instrumental to Arsenal’s success Gilberto’s positional intelligence defensive awareness and composure in possession established him as one of the premier defensive midfielders in world football his partnership with Patrick Vieira created perfect equilibrium in Arsenal’s midfield combining defensive security with dynamic forward thrust Gilberto’s assessment of current players therefore carries significant weight his intimate understanding of what made the Invincibles special enables him to identify the qualities required to break into that formidable lineup

Speaking on Sky Sports Gilberto Silva made the striking assertion that two current Arsenal players would not merely make the Invincibles squad but would actually warrant inclusion in the starting eleven this represents extraordinary praise given the exceptional quality of the 2003/04 team the two players singled out for this distinction were Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard both of whom have established themselves as cornerstone figures in Arteta’s Arsenal revolution Gilberto’s endorsement of these players speaks volumes about their abilities and the impact they have made at the club “Yeah those guys I really like I really like the way they play the style I like very much Saka Ødegaard the way he can make the combination yeah” Silva explained adding “And then later on when you see who is upfront in my team you will understand my pick because you have the qualities of the passes” this statement suggests that Gilberto sees both players as providing qualities that would complement and perhaps even enhance the attacking prowess of the Invincibles forward line

Bukayo Saka’s inclusion represents the validation of Arsenal’s academy system and the club’s tradition of developing exceptional young talent the winger who progressed through Arsenal’s Hale End academy has matured into one of the Premier League’s most effective attacking players combining technical excellence with tactical intelligence and physical resilience despite his relative youth Saka has shouldered immense responsibility for both club and country demonstrating remarkable consistency and mental fortitude his ability to beat defenders create chances and contribute goals has established him as Arsenal’s most dependable attacking force Saka’s versatility is another attribute that would have appealed to Wenger who valued players capable of operating effectively in multiple positions the statistics underline Saka’s contribution with an impressive return of seventy goals and seventy-one assists across two hundred and sixty-one appearances for the club these numbers reflect his dual threat as both scorer and creator a combination that mirrors the output of the great Robert Pires who Saka would hypothetically replace in Gilberto’s combined eleven

Martin Ødegaard’s journey to Arsenal took a different path yet his impact has been equally profound the Norwegian playmaker who arrived initially on loan from Real Madrid before making his move permanent has developed into the technical and spiritual leader of Arteta’s team as club captain Ødegaard embodies the intelligent progressive style that characterizes modern Arsenal his vision spatial awareness and precision in execution have transformed Arsenal’s attacking play providing the creative fulcrum around which the team revolves comparisons with Dennis Bergkamp inevitably follow any discussion of Ødegaard’s qualities the similarity in their technical excellence and football intelligence is evident though they represent different interpretations of the attacking midfield role with forty goals and thirty-seven assists in one hundred and ninety-six appearances Ødegaard’s statistical contribution is substantial yet numbers alone fail to capture the totality of his influence on Arsenal’s play his press-resistance intelligent movement and defensive work rate make him the complete modern midfielder capable of influencing all phases of play

In constructing his combined eleven Gilberto maintained the formidable spine of the Invincibles team with Jens Lehmann retained in goal the German goalkeeper’s commanding presence and reliability were essential components of Arsenal’s unbeaten run though occasionally prone to moments of impulsiveness Lehmann’s concentration and shot-stopping abilities were first-rate his inclusion ahead of current goalkeeping options reflects the exceptional standard he set during that historic season the back four remains entirely intact in Gilberto’s selection with Lauren Kolo Touré Sol Campbell and Ashley Cole forming a defensive unit that combined resilience with technical quality this quartet achieved a perfect balance between defensive security and attacking contribution with the full-backs Lauren and Cole providing width and penetration while the central defensive partnership of Campbell and Touré offered both physical dominance and composure in possession the exclusion of contemporary defenders despite the impressive performances of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães in particular underscores the exceptional quality of the Invincibles defense

The midfield in Gilberto’s combined team features a fascinating blend of eras with Patrick Vieira’s inclusion alongside Ødegaard creating an intriguing partnership that was never realized in actuality Vieira’s physical presence leadership and technical ability made him the complete midfield performer capable of dominating opponents through both power and precision his partnership with Gilberto provided the perfect platform for Arsenal’s attacking talents to flourish the hypothetical combination of Vieira with Ødegaard would create a midfield duo balancing physicality with technical excellence the captain’s armband worn by both men in different eras suggests a shared leadership quality that would have facilitated effective on-field communication Robert Pires retains his position on the left flank in this combined eleven the Frenchman’s elegant style intelligent movement and clinical finishing made him one of the Premier League’s most effective wide players his ability to drift infield and combine with central attackers created space for Ashley Cole’s overlapping runs establishing patterns of play that became hallmarks of Arsenal’s attacking approach

The selection of Saka on the right wing represents the displacement of Freddie Ljungberg another key figure in the Invincibles team the Swedish international’s direct running intelligent movement and goal threat provided balance to Arsenal’s attack while his work rate and tactical discipline contributed significantly to the team’s defensive structure Saka’s inclusion ahead of Ljungberg suggests that Gilberto sees the young Englishman as offering an even greater combination of these qualities his superior creative numbers perhaps tipping the balance in a tight selection decision the forward positions in Gilberto’s team feature a slight reconfiguration with Dennis Bergkamp moving from his customary withdrawn role to partner Thierry Henry in a more conventional strike partnership this adjustment accommodates Ødegaard in the attacking midfield position while maintaining the presence of both Henry and Bergkamp two of Arsenal’s greatest ever players Henry’s explosive pace technical brilliance and ruthless finishing established him as the Premier League’s most devastating attacking force while Bergkamp’s vision touch and creative genius made him the perfect foil

The selection of this combined eleven by Gilberto Silva generates fascinating hypothetical scenarios regarding how these different generations might have functioned together on the pitch the inclusion of Saka and Ødegaard alongside the established Invincibles creates a team that would maintain the technical excellence and attacking intent that characterized Wenger’s philosophy while potentially adding new dimensions through the specific qualities these players bring Saka’s direct dribbling combined with intelligent combination play would provide a devastating outlet on the right side of the attack complementing the more intricate approach of Pires on the opposite flank Ødegaard’s ability to operate in tight spaces finding passes that others might not even perceive would create additional opportunities for Henry’s devastating runs in behind opposition defenses the Norwegian’s set-piece delivery would provide another weapon in the attacking arsenal while his pressing intensity aligns with the more modern interpretation of the game that Arteta has implemented

The validity of such cross-generational comparisons is inherently limited by the different contexts in which these players operated football has evolved tactically physically and technically since the Invincibles era with changes in playing styles training methodologies and technological support what remains constant however is the requirement for technical excellence competitive mentality and game intelligence qualities that transcend specific tactical epochs Gilberto’s assessment suggests that both Saka and Ødegaard possess these essential attributes in abundance enough to warrant inclusion alongside some of the greatest players in Arsenal’s history this represents extraordinary praise for these current stars particularly given Gilberto’s intimate understanding of what made the Invincibles so special his perspective offers a bridge between generations providing continuity in Arsenal’s identity despite the various transitions the club has experienced since 2004

The implications of Gilberto’s selection extend beyond mere hypothetical team selection the identification of Saka and Ødegaard as Invincibles-caliber talents validates the direction in which Arteta is taking the club after periods of inconsistency and identity crisis Arsenal appears to be reconnecting with the qualities that defined its most successful era technically accomplished players committed to an attractive progressive playing style founded on positional discipline and collective understanding Arteta himself having played under Wenger understands the Arsenal DNA and has sought to reestablish the principles that underpinned the club’s previous successes while adapting them to the demands of modern football the recognition from a figure like Gilberto that current players would stand alongside the legends of 2004 suggests that Arsenal is on the right track in its pursuit of returning to the summit of English football

For Saka and Ødegaard personally Gilberto’s endorsement represents significant recognition of their contributions and abilities being compared favorably with legends like Ljungberg and Bergkamp places them in esteemed company and acknowledges their importance to Arsenal’s present and future both players have demonstrated remarkable consistency despite their relative youth shouldering significant responsibility during a period of transition and rebuilding at the club their technical qualities are evident but perhaps even more impressive is their mental resilience and leadership particularly in Ødegaard’s case as club captain these attributes align with the psychological profile of the Invincibles who combined individual brilliance with collective responsibility and unshakeable self-belief the challenge for Saka Ødegaard and their teammates is to translate these qualities into tangible success emulating their predecessors by securing the Premier League title

The statistical contributions of both players underline their importance to Arsenal’s attacking play Saka’s record of seventy goals and seventy-one assists in two hundred and sixty-one appearances demonstrates remarkable productivity for a wide player particularly one who has carried such offensive responsibility from a young age these numbers compare favorably with those posted by many established stars and reflect his consistency as well as his ability to influence games in multiple ways Ødegaard’s return of forty goals and thirty-seven assists from one hundred and ninety-six appearances similarly illustrates his offensive impact though raw statistics cannot fully capture his contributi