Gilberto ready for night of destiny

Arsenal FC's Gilberto has admitted he will probably need oxygen at the end of the game if he is asked to man-mark FIFA World Player of the Year Ronaldinho in the UEFA Champions League final.

Holding role
The holding midfielder shadowed Argentina playmaker Juan Román Riquelme to great effect in the semi-final victory against Villarreal CF and may be required to do a similar job on his Brazil team-mate at the Stade de France - a task that is sure to test him to the full. "I know Ronaldinho is going to have to be watched closely," Gilberto told uefa.com. "It was instinctive to follow Riquelme in the Villarreal tie and if Arsène Wenger tells me to be Ronaldinho's shadow, I will oblige, even if it means I need oxygen afterwards!"

Two titans
Tonight's match is billed as a contest between two of the world's foremost players - Ronaldinho and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. Although Gilberto marvels at the talents of both, he believes someone else could emerge to steal the limelight. "Henry and Ronaldinho are geniuses. In my opinion, Thierry is the best striker in the world and Ronaldinho the best player, and their presence will be a bonus for the crowd. That said, football is the kind of game in which a player from outside the spotlight can be the difference.

Ideal situation
"The players know what an opportunity this final is for their careers," the 29-year-old added. "I see this game as the kind of situation any footballer in the world would want to be in. Especially because you never know when there is going to be another chance to win this trophy."

Nervous performance
There was some criticism of Arsenal's display in the 1-0 aggregate success against Villarreal, but Gilberto expects a more convincing performance in Paris, insisting the players are more relaxed having secured a UEFA Champions League place for next season. "I think everybody was tired and perhaps a bit too anxious against Villarreal, but it's going to be different for the final, especially now we finally sorted out our situation in the Premiership. It was a relief to finish fourth.

'We have to win it'
"It's only one match and we have to win it," he went on. "Arsenal deserve to be in the final for everything we have done in the UEFA Champions League this season and there's no point worrying about the opposition. Even if we play 4-5-1, I am convinced people will see us with the knife between our teeth. We are not afraid. The main thing is we can't make mistakes against them, but anything can happen. Those 90 minutes will decide who are the best team in Europe."