Gilbert, who has had a nightmare spell out of the team thanks to a knee injury, has joined the Rovers for a month as he bids to build up his fitness.
The left-back has played a few reserve games but Brian Laws wanted to give him some first-team experience at another club before playing the former Leicester man for The Owls.
McArdle meanwhile has penned a two-and-a-half year deal with the Spotland outfit after spending the season there on loan.
The Northern Ireland Under-21 defender never got a chance to impress at Hillsborough and was signed for an undisclosed fee.