Arsenal to offer Gilberto new deal

Arsenal are to offer World Cup winner Gilberto Silva a new contract this summer.

The 28-year-old Brazilian midfielder has just one year left on the four-year deal he signed when he joined Arsenal from Atletico Mineiro for £5million in 2002.

He has been plagued by a back injury this season that ruled him out from mid-September until his reappearance against Norwich last Saturday in Arsenal's 4-1 Premiership win.

Gilberto had feared he would be out for the season but after a recuperation period in Brazil and intensive rehabilitation work back at Arsenal, he has shown that he has now regained full fitness.

It looks certain that he will be offered a three-year extension to his contract which will take him into the £55,000- a-week bracket - a rise of some £750,000 a year.

His value to Arsenal was seen last Saturday when manager Arsene Wenger was able to give a well-earned rest to captain Patrick Vieira who picked up a hip injury while on international duty with France.

Gilberto's experience and positional play was evident throughout his comeback and there is no doubt that Wenger rates him highly. "We will try to extend his contract," said Wenger ahead of tomorrow's Premiership game at Middlesbrough.

"He has a great presence in midfield and you could see that last week. He certainly knows the job.

"We want him to stay and we want him to be part of our future. We will sort that out in the summer.

"He has recovered completely from his back injury and that will not be a problem for him now."

But while Gilberto is in the squad for the Premiership clash at the Riverside stadium, Swedish midfielder Fredrik Ljungberg is out with a hip injury he picked up against Norwich.