Will Silvestre signing be first of an Arsenal double swoop?
If Mikael Silvestre joins Arsenal this week, it will prove to be another coup for Arsene Wenger.
The incredibly experienced defender will, if his fitness holds, provide another wise head in the dressing room and could just be a missing link to keep the younger lads focused.
I remember Silvestre slating Arsenal a few times in the past, but there’s no doubt he is a quality player and has the ability to play in the centre and on the left, which is particularly relevant given the absence of cover for Gael Clichy.
Armand Traore has played further forward on a few occasions and I wonder if Wenger believes Traore’s attacking skills are better than his defending. To hone the defensive part of his job and not leave the team exposed when players need to be rested, who better than someone like Silvestre?
It will be interesting to see if the deal goes through and if reports are to be believed, there’s only a few details to sort out. I’m a little surprised by Fergie giving Silvestre permission to come to us, to be honest, but hopefully that arrogance will come back to haunt him.
There are, of course, doubts over Samir Nasri’s fitness ahead of the Fulham game. Maybe he hasn’t entirely recovered from the injury that kept him out of the Twente game and with such a long season ahead, despite his brilliance, I would like to see him rested if there is any suspicion that he is not completely healthy.
Given his part in our goal last weekend, I expect Denilson will be involved – and if Nasri doesn’t make it, why not play Alex Song?
Cameroon were knocked out of the Olympics last weekend so he has had plenty of time to recover from jet lag and get ready to make his mark at Emirates.
Song is one of those players who looked unlikely to make the grade in a lot of his early appearances. I must say that when Wenger brought him on, I always got a little anxious.
But he showed in the Blackburn Carling Cup game what a dynamic player he can be and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him included in the squad.
I just hope his return and the possible signing of Silvestre doesn’t mean Wenger gives up on buying a midfield enforcer. We need more depth.
DA
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Reader Comments (39)
alex or toure will play DM with denilson
A coup! You are having a giraffe aint ya? Silvestre is an error prone over the hill defender. Why shatter any hope of Senderos or Djourou or Song making it by bringing that mug on board. No thanks...
What a fuck. Silvestre. funny. How old is he?
If this is true than that just proves something about Arsenal ambitions. What good will it do us to buy a player rejected by our rivals. For the record Silvestre is FINISHED.
Song excelled in the Olympics, being the brain and muscles behind Cameroon's three clean sheets. Why not give him what he deserves, the lable world class talent.
This would be a coup and a great signing.
Every Arsenal supporter has complained that we need more experience and depth in defence. It is also clear that Wenger is not going to spend huge amounts of money but still a decent amount of money.
Silvestre is not fishing, injury prone yes but if Arsene could pull this off then I recon Sir Alex would live to regret it, as Silvestre is world class and a good back-up with experience
He used to be a class act and a defender I always admired. I haven't seen a lot of him lately, so maybe he is over the hill as some here and saying, I couldn't argue with that. Wenger might be able to work his magic though and SURELY at £750,000 it would be silly not to, even if he isn't in the first team.
The fact that he is 31 does not make sense. Granted he will bring in 'some' experience, but if he does go straight into the team or becomes back up, then what is going to happen to Song, Djourou and Senderos? We will be left with the same problem next season, only the 3 mentioned will not have had much playing time and not developed enough.
this says it all about arsenal and wengers ambitions
wisdom... how many times has Wenger had to play a right footed defender in the left? I think this is a worthy purchase... very clever - if you look at the price... and considering the fact that Silvestre wont need to gain experience... I'd rather see him replace Clichy incase of injury... Clichy needs rest as well!
he's just 31 gunner, very experienced as well with the ability to play across the backline, why not???? i agree he isnt the best defender in the world but he understandably lost out to vidic and ferdinand in the mancs pecking order. i think it would be a good buy, especially as he is so cheap. but what is curious is why wenger is so interested in his fellow french men, he's bought a lot of them over the past 13 years.
this says it all about arsenal and wengers ambitions August 20, 2008 | manny ..................Says even more about your shocking lack of insight into what Wenger is trying to achieve and the way he goes about it and your understanding of football in general. Must be a spuddie then.
If this happens it will be the Gilberto role. Someone that can put a foot on the ball and hold up just in front of the Back 4. Lets be honest Big Phil playing that role in pre season was comical.
Almunia and Senderos will not allow us to challenge Man U & Chelsea. As well as having Silvestre as a back up player, we need a class goalie.
IF this is true, and I stress IF, then he's being brought in as a back-up LB for Clichy until Traoré, Gibbs, or Botelho are ready, say two seasons. I don't expect to see Touré or Song in midfield (although I would pick Song myself). Inler's the man!
Remember the days of Bould, Adams, Winterburn, Dixon & Seaman. Were any of us this worried about hoe Arsenal would perform against Man U, Chelsea and Liverpool then. Yes it's true, we also had Viera, but with that competant a back line, his job was so much easier!
To be honest, Silvestre was a United regular in his day. Our defence has had is dodgy days, being youthful like the rest of our squad, and thus far we have been relying upon the broad shoulders of Gallas to tie up our back 4. However, as he demonstrated at Birmingham, he is not always profecient in demonstrating how to conduct ones self on the pitch. Whereas I feel Silvestre is a rather poor defender, for that sort of price (750,000) I feel he is worth it, as it is reassuring to have a failsafe with a lot of premier league experience if Clichy gets injured, rather than rearranging our already fragile defence.
Few things.....
Silvestre can be cover for LB or CD and can even fit into the DM role quite well.
I think it would be a very good signing. I don't particularly like him (tho that's mainly down to the fact that he's a Manc player and has been for years. I really didn't like Gallas before he came to us!!!) but he IS a good player. He's also an older player which means I'm assuming he'll be happy not having a guaranteed first team place.
As for how Fergie would let him come to us...??? Maybe it's a bit like the Sol situation was for us last year. Player says he wants to leave, manager says it's not a problem.
Gooners are goners ....club for player to be disposed!!!
I seriously think it make sense from Arsene's point of view. He is versatile to play across the back 4, so if he found his old form, he can give any of our regular back 4 a break. Even if he is not back to his best, his experience can also help, and a good mentor for the young.
Also, when he is supposedly dumped by ManU, he will not be demanding to play in all games, so it is a good bridging solution.
Remember Arsene talked about rotation? Based on the size of our experienced squad, we need versatile players who can play in multiple positions to be able to rotate properly. So, he fit the bill.
Intelligent comment from Goners up there.
Well done.
Next time try and make some sense, eh?
Fritchie, you say "The fact that he is 31 does not make sense. ...what is going to happen to Song, Djourou and Senderos?"
What exactly were supporters asking for when they wanted CB cover. A 27 year old? that would be even worse. Silvestre will be here a year, 2 maximum. Provides great cover for Clichy, and will be phsycially strong in CB against some of the Blackburns.
OM
A seasoned international for less than a million and you're all complaining! There's just no pleasing some people. I also don't believe it's arrogance on Ferguson's part, more that he is letting a long-serving player decide his own future - different from Heinze who'd only been there a couple of years and wanted to go to Liverpool who, as everyone knows, Fergie hates more than anybody.
What is it with my fellow Arsenal fans, You complain we lack experience and presence at the back, so Mr Wenger opts for a defender with a proven track record in the Prem and CL and then you complain hes not given the youngsters a chance!!
Sort it out. Silvestre is a good solid CB with pace.. he was injured most of last season, which as far as i know is the onli major injury hes had. so to say hes injury prone is abit premature. hes 31, so for a CB he should be in his prime. for a couple years the guy didnt put a foot wrong. Hes not error prone... he got caught out a fair bit wen he first came to the prem wen he was a LB his positional sense was awful, but his pace normally not him out trouble...
All in all if he does sign a he'll be a nice stop gap.. can also play at LB aswell... JD looked a bit better recently and deffo has all the tools to be a v good CB, maybe Silvestre will be the guy that comes in when toure or gallas are out and we're away in the CL at milan or LIVERPOOL!!! Wen we need a solid CB pairing, Senderos wasnt ready last year and it cost us in big games.
A midfielder would be nice... Inler obviously has a bit about him. Barrys a no go, Alonso is top class allrounder, can play in a Fabregas roll or can sit deeper, and the same as Silvestre has experience of playin for top premiership club, as well as CL experience.
he has a massive head.... that might be useful I guess