Gilberto Silva has admitted Arsenal were so deeply affected by Patrick Vieira's departure that their season suffered significant damage. The Brazil international feels the squad should have reacted better to their former captain's sale and says he now has a responsibility along with the other senior players to guide the team through a difficult period.
Gilberto believes the effects of Vieira's transfer to Juventus were keenly felt in the early-season defeats at Chelsea, Middlesbrough and West Bromwich which have undermined Arsenal's title challenge.
"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," he said. "Patrick was a fantastic leader for us and when he left it was difficult for us at the beginning 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. [ But] we need to carry on and play without him and support the young players"
The 29-year-old argues greater self-belief is vital when Arsenal go to Charlton on St Stephen's Day seeking to end a run of three Premiership defeats. He acknowledges, though, that Cesc Fabregas and Mathieu Flamini found it hard against Michael Essien and Claude Makelele in last weekend's defeat by Chelsea. "For Cesc it's tough because he's not strong enough compared to Essien and Makelele," he said. "Plus, experienced players know the way they have to play in the middle of the park and for young players sometimes it's difficult."
Didier Drogba yesterday hit back at Fifa president Sepp Blatter's criticism of Chelsea for importing expensive foreigners, saying home players remained the English champions' backbone.
Drogba, who cost £24 million from Marseille in 2004, said Chelsea's success proved the money had been well spent. "It has not been spent for nothing. Last year we won the Premier League, we got to the semi-finals of the Champions League and we won the League Cup. We want to go on winning," the Ivory Coast striker said.
"Our English players are still the spine of our team. Frank Lampard is one of the best players in the world and John Terry is one of the best defenders," he said, adding the Chelsea vice-captain and captain were also inspirational leaders.
Blatter would like six home-grown players in each side. "If Chelsea were forced to have only five foreigners then Roman Abramovich could not go on buying the best players across the world for exorbitant fees. Chelsea is the example of what should not happen," Blatter said in a magazine interview.
Clive Woodward and George Burley have made their first priority at Southampton a clear-out of Harry Redknapp's first-team coaching staff. Rumours of divisions behind the scenes have plagued St Mary's in recent months.
The caretaker manager Dave Bassett, the first-team coach Dennis Rofe and the goalkeeping coach David Coles left yesterday, while Redknapp's assistant manager Kevin Bond was already on gardening leave. In their place Burley has appointed Simon Hunt as his assistant and Malcolm Webster as the goalkeeping coach.
Woodward confirmed he played a significant part in the recruitment of Burley. "The key with the various changes that have happened and people leaving was to find a coach that I really wanted to work with and I've spent a lot of time meeting a lot of people over the last two weeks," said Woodward.
"I'm director of football, I'm heading up the football side. I wouldn't say I'm the boss. I don't see it as being accountable, we are just going to work together. I think we can really do something very special. George is the main man, he is in charge of the first team. He picks the team."
Burley, who left previous jobs at Derby and Hearts following claims of interference from above. "Everything around the first team revolves around me," said Burley, who has a two-year contract. "As far as coaching, working with players and bringing players in and out, nothing has changed at all."
