Gilberto Silva declares "the samba is back" at Arsenal ahead of Tottenham clash

Arsenal legend Gilberto Silva believes "the samba is back" at the Emirates following their tremendous start to the season.

The Gunners are top of the Premier League, sitting one point ahead of champions Manchester City and bitter rivals Tottenham heading into Saturday afternoon's North London Derby at home. Arsenal haven't won the Premier League title since they went a whole campaign unbeaten 19 years ago under legendary boss Arsene Wenger.

Silva was a key member of Arsenal's team that season and is impressed by Mikel Arteta's ambitious young team, which contains four exciting Brazilians in Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Magalhaes and Marquinhos.

"From what I've heard in the last few weeks, the samba is back at Arsenal," Silva told Mirror Football. "It's good!

"I think they are great players and they have done well - this is important. I think the consistency, for this league especially, is fundamental to achieve the results. For me, I feel happy to see more Brazilian players at the club - especially doing as well as they are at this moment in time. I wish them the best of success."

Beating Tottenham will be difficult challenge for Arsenal, as they've finished below their neighbours in the table for six consecutive seasons. Silva believes Arteta's players appreciate the magnitude of the occasion and is backing them to end Tottenham's unbeaten start to the campaign.

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"It'd be great to see Arsenal win [silverware] again this year and they have an important game. The North London Derby is always very special, they have to be ready for this. I think this type of game, but they understand that. When you go for big games you don't need to explain to players how to behave, how to play - they know how to manage it. Just go there and win the game!"

Jesus and Martinelli both represent Brazil's senior team but were left out of the squad for this month's internationals by manager Tite. Silva, who won the World Cup in 2002, has advised the pair to work tirelessly over the next month or so to break into the squad for this year's tournament in Qatar.

"There's many [attackers], we have many," notes Silva. "It's hard work for Tite to choose who's going to play… Jesus is doing great. I think it was good for him to move to Arsenal because he can be one of the main guys. Martinelli is [also] doing well.

"If they are going to get the chance to be in the team for the World Cup, it's about them - to keep working well. They were out from the last game, but it's about them to keep working."

Roberto Carlos, who played alongside Silva in 2002, has also highlighted Brazil's strength in depth. He adds: "I'm happy to see Gabriel Jesus playing at Arsenal and playing really, really well. Martinelli is very consistent, as well. Brazil is being very well represented. We've got four or five strikers at the top level. Jesus, Vinicius, Neymar [and then midfielders] Fred, Casemiro. We've got top, top attackers."

Roberto Carlos and Gilberto Silva were speaking at the premier of 'Brazil 2002: The Real Story' a documentary produced by Entourage Sport & Entertainment and Collective Media, available on Sky Documentaries from the 13 November

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