Gilberto recalls racism

Arsenal midfielder Gilberto admits his only experience of racism during a match was against PSV Eindhoven in Holland.

The Brazilian World Cup-winner played for the Gunners in Eindhoven shortly after joining from Atletico Mineiro in 2002 and revealed he, along with captain Thierry Henry, was subjected to “monkey songs”.

“I never experienced this kind of thing in particular, but when I first came to Arsenal we had it,” he said.

“We were playing in Holland and it was against PSV. At the end, some of the fans started to sing monkey songs, but I just noticed it at the end of the game.

“The players were talking about it. They were very upset but, for me, it didn’t have any effect because I couldn’t understand it and I was fully focused on the match. That was the only time I’ve really had this particular kind of problem.”