Gilberto Silva reacts as Arsenal confirm exit of long-serving Gunners icon

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Gilberto Silva has reacted on Twitter after Arsenal confirmed that Steve Bould will leave the club this summer. The long-serving Gunners man has spent 33 years at the club, and will leave his post as Under-23’s manager. Silva took to Twitter to send a touching message to Arsenal icon Bould.

Bould, 58, first joined Arsenal way back in 1988 as a 25-year-old. He went on to play 372 times for the Gunners before a brief move to Sunderland – ahead of his retirement. He returned to Arsenal in 2001, working for 11 years in the academy. In 2012, he was made the club’s assistant manager.

Following the appointment of Unai Emery, Bould was made the Under-23’s manager. But the Gunners have struggled in the top tier of Premier League 2 under Bould – finishing in a lowly 10th position in a league that consists of 13 clubs. Now, he has left the club – and Silva has responded.

Bould departure is harsh, despite poor Arsenal 23’s season – following Silva Tweet

While Bould did not do enough this season to convince the Arsenal hierarchy to keep him – his previous 32 years should. Even his recent seasons at Arsenal have seen him nurture some of the club’s best players. Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Joe Willock and Emile Smith-Rowe.

They all benefitted from working under Bould. His tutoring of the Hale End products has seen them blossom in the first team. But after 33 years, it gives Arsenal the chance to keep things fresh and help continue the production line. Jack Wilshere was not happy with his exit, though.