Gilberto: Gunners can’t afford to slip up against Charlton

GILBERTO is warning Arsenal cannot afford to slip up against Charlton tonight if they want to stay on course for a Champions League place.

The Gunners have dropped down from third spot to fifth after their shock 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United on Saturday — when victories for Liverpool and Bolton helped them leapfrog the north Londoners.

The likes of Portsmouth and Tottenham are also vying for a top-four spot this time round — leaving Arsenal’s stand-in captain Gilberto in no doubt about how costly it could be to have another off-day against one of the Premiership’s lesser lights.

Charlton visit the Emirates Stadium on the back of a heartening weekend win at home to Aston Villa under new manager Alan Pardew.

Gilberto warned: “It is a very important game for us.

“We cannot afford to drop points in this game because we need to get into a better position.”

There appears to be precious little leeway for Arsenal if they are to avoid under-achievement this season — a point not lost on the Brazilian midfielder.

“In the situation we are in, every game is very important to us and we cannot afford to lose games like we did on Saturday. If we are not 100% and help each other we will find it hard.”

Gilberto is well aware of the tussle evolving below the top two Manchester United and Chelsea.

“At the moment it is very competitive for the Champions League places,” he notes.

“It is difficult because we are very close with Bolton, Liverpool and Portsmouth. It will be a fight but we need to do the best we can.”

The Gunners have an early opportunity to put their weekend disappointment behind them but Gilberto is unsure whether he is pleased or not about that.

“I don’t know if it is good or bad to have another game so soon,” he said.

“But we have no time to complain about the number of games; we just to carry on, move on and do our best.”

Arsenal continue to be beset by injuries, with regular captain Thierry Henry still among nine first-teamers on the sidelines.

Meanwhile Charlton midfielder Bryan Hughes says he was amused by Alan Pardew’s touchline spat with Arsene Wenger and insists the incident underlines the Addicks manager’s passion.

Pardew and Wenger are preparing to renew their touchline rivalry at the Emirates Stadium tonight with events of November at Upton Park still fresh in the memory.

Hughes said: “I’ve obviously seen the bit of banter they had on the touchline but I’m sure it’s all forgotten now.

“I just look forward to going to the Emirates and hopefully continuing our current form.

“The incident was quite funny, to be fair. It just shows you the passion in Alan as a manager.”

Pardew’s arrival has raised Charlton’s hopes of escaping relegation from the Premiership with Saturday’s 2-1 victory over Aston Villa making it four points from two games under their new boss.

Hughes, who fired the 90th-minute winner against Martin O’Neill’s side, revealed Pardew’s arrival has fortified the club with a new fighting spirit.

“Just Alan being here for the last two games has given us a massive, massive boost. The desire and the hunger of everyone has been raised,” he said.

“He’s come in, he’s obviously steadied the ship and we’ve taken four points from the last two games, which is great.

“It puts a bit more pressure on the teams around us and hopefully pushes us on to get a few more points going into the new year.”