Gilberto reveals the secret that made Arsenal invincible

The former Gunners midfielder has lifted the lid on what he believes led Arsene Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’ to go an entire season unbeaten.

Gilberto Silva believes the ‘intense’ training sessions were key behind Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ success.

17 years ago, Gilberto starred alongside the likes of Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira as Arsenal won the Premier League in 2003/04 without a single defeat under manager Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners extended their unbeaten run to a record 49 games the following season, a feat no other English side has managed to rival ever since.

Now Gilberto, who won a further two FA Cups and two Community Shields at the club, has claimed the training sessions at London Colney were the reason Arsenal stayed unbeaten for so long.

“An Arsenal training session was so intense,” he told Goal. “I believe this is what made us invincible. It was because of this type of mentality. The way we trained was no different to the games. In fact, many times, some training sessions were harder than the games we played.

“It was more difficult because we never pulled back from any of the challenges, none of the players. Sometimes, it was quite scary. Every session was a big battle.

“You had to be at your top level because it was there that everything started for us. It’s where we got prepared for all the games and where Arsene learned which type of player he could count on.”

Gilberto made 243 appearances in a five-year spell at Arsenal before departing in 2007. He retired in 2015 following spells with Panathinaikos in Greece, and Gremio and Clube Atletico Mineiro in his native Brazil.