Silvestre is a sensible and pragmatic signing

Silvestre is a sensible and pragmatic signing

By Joël Che on Thursday, August 21, 2008

When was the last time Arsenal and Manchester United, traded players – nearly 12 years ago. Among the top four, trading is pretty rare – United blocked Heinze's move to Anfield because they didn't want to strengthen their competition.

When was the last time Arsène Wenger signed a player over 27-years of age? I can't remember. Has it ever happened?

It is rare for Wenger to buy a player from another premiership club. It is also rare for Wenger to buy specialist players. Most Wenger boys can play in a variety of positions and even specialists like Gaël Clichy and Bacary Sagna can attack like wingers. In the squad, William Gallas and Philippe Senderos are the only specialists.

So why buy, 31-years-old, built like an ox who is completely unexciting and rarely attacks?

Because it makes sense. It makes perfect sense.

Mikael Silvestre is a career defender and has a lot of experience – Premiership and European experience. Premiership experience is a huge factor. The gap between Clichy and Armand Traoré is clearly too wide. We have no cover at left back if we are honest. Arsenal's defence needs stability and it is easier for an experienced player to provide stability than a younger player.

Silvestre is big and strong – gives away a lot of free kicks and potentially penalties but he is not going to be in the first team so no need to worry about that. His positioning will be good and he will know what to do. He is a trained career defender.

It opens up four new possibilities for Wenger:

He can play three at the back with Silvestre, Gallas and Sagna. We have never had combination before Silvestre arrived where this could work. These three players can do it. Why would we do it?

This is very IMPORTANT: We have so many GOOD striking options that we should really never sacrifice any of them by playing a lone striker this season – NEVER! We can play three at the back, 5 in midfield and 2 strikers with that combination.

He can rest Clichy. He can take away defensive responsibility from Nasri or Walcott at certain times by playing a defender who is not required to attack.

He can play for draws or defend narrow leads at the end of games by adding an experienced defender and removing a winger (instead of striker) and pushing Clichy forward to protect against very mobile wingers while still maintain a goal threat with 2 strikers. The dilemma of defending a lead is that you remove your goal threat. It would be great to maintain a goal threat while packing your defence.

In signing Silvestre, Wenger has done things that he has never done before – things that don't fit into his philosophy. But it proves that he is sensible and pragmatic when required.

My view is that this is a very good signing. Manchester United won't miss him but Arsenal need him.

User Comments

67

Mark Elvis

Posted on 26 Aug, 2008 at 09:32 AM - Reply

GUNNERZ! We have always wept about a very young squad. Now that we have brought in somene older - we continue to complain. Lets keep behind the PROF! Wenger 4LIFE

66

Forlan

Posted on 26 Aug, 2008 at 08:03 AM - Reply

as long as it doesn't jeopardise a move for a CM i'm happy with it. I had wondered about Wenger's thinking in this transfer, i knew he must have a reason being arsene wenger and all so thank you for enlightening me as to a possibility of that reason

65

shkumbin

Posted on 26 Aug, 2008 at 03:48 AM - Reply

for all of them that things,arsen venger should leav the club,dont forget whan think-THE BEATIFUL GAME-he brought that into our club and after he will go the beatiful game,the special arsnal,the way of playing football that only arsenal can play right now,will go forever.arsenal will win titles or many cups,but the beatiful will never be in emirates studion

64

fireblade

Posted on 25 Aug, 2008 at 01:21 AM - Reply

a solid signing, good cover and also first team choice

63

jp20

Posted on 24 Aug, 2008 at 03:33 PM - Reply

its an 'OK' signing,not a great one but still fine
the three defense system rarely works,
mcclaren tried that against croatia and suffered heavily for it.

i do agree two strikers are necessary ,especially with the football arsenal play,and please buy a replacement for flamini

62

saintpeter faeji

Posted on 23 Aug, 2008 at 08:08 PM - Reply

with our unimpressive result against Fulman this evening,i think i am really disappointed.Coming to Silvestre signing am more than disappointed. It was cleared to everybody that will lack dept in the midfield. no creativity & even the free flow futball we were known for was a suspect.Infact, this signing did not gladden my heart at all.Go for players who can play good futball and also delivered.Barry, Alonzo,Diego ...............uhm?

61

goh

Posted on 23 Aug, 2008 at 07:41 PM - Reply

i dont know, but you just lost to fulham.

60

GunnerzRock

Posted on 23 Aug, 2008 at 11:07 AM - Reply

I really hope silvestre will be a good signing. Arsenal really need to build on their defence squad and i hope we win the title this season.

59

M.I.S

Posted on 23 Aug, 2008 at 10:15 AM - Reply

The signing is done what we can do , i hope he do well , ...

58

Jesper

Posted on 23 Aug, 2008 at 12:24 AM - Reply

I live in Holland and know Adelaye from his games at Sparta. He is a rebel and will always cause trouble in the squad. And has zero experience. Silvestre as a back up is a good move from Wenger.

57

john quinn

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 10:17 PM - Reply

LADS listen .... Arsenal are going to win the league Ilove the way Arsene is working this season ..he is doing things a little different this season we just need a little luck on the injury front ... Arsene is using all his fantastic management skills to extract the best out of the players we have ...and on top of all his great management skills he would of made one hell of an accountant.... did you read what he said about Garath Barry.... buying a player at 27 or 28 you get no return ......... no re-sale of course he is 100% right.. as always ..

56

Swit Gunner

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 06:33 PM - Reply

for 750K, it's a good buy to play easier opponents and rest Clichy. Armand Traore needs the experience before he is ready to cover Clichy. So, off he goes to Pompey to gain experience. Cool it guys. It's not tat this guy is going to be Arsenal's captain. Cool it guys. He's merely adding the depth at the left. In Arsene, I trust.

55

spdy

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 04:18 PM - Reply

The old fox has now cought us by surprise. what is AW with french players? let's the past be past. now AW, get to work and sign us one more DM.......for the sake of trophy-less fans....

54

jabulani molefhe

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 03:03 PM - Reply

he iz fine coz he will replace gallas

53

uduma

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 02:34 PM - Reply

i think most respondents are unfair to AW and senderos.the latter and kolo kept out 10 clean sheets in ucl 2006.this is a sensible buy.do we really need another player.i think den is better than flames but he needs cover.this team is good and will take the triphies this season

52

SNIPER10

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 02:14 PM - Reply

an astute bit of business, cover for Clichy, while Traore gains 2 years of experience. Will push Clichy to develop further, and when Traore returns, expect 'Slyvester' to be gone!
Wenger always promotes competition in the team, the same way Given was rumoured to come in to push Fabianski etc.

Now we just need some 'thug life' as a DM, let's hope we get Inler..and some yellow cards. Gilberto was great, but just a few yellows all season? Need a that young 'Viera' type..bring the FEAR!

SNIPER 10

51

GH

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 12:21 PM - Reply

Good back up, can teach the younger players what it takes to win the CUP! for less than a million!! come on, great signing

50

Gabo

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 12:15 PM - Reply

Couldn't agree more. Astute aquisition from all perspectives, and completely risk free. For those questioning the color of Silvestre's blood, I assure you its red, so please lay off the slights, its chauvinistic and childish.

Even more reassuring is that Wenger is looking to add yet another signing, a CDM to be sure. With this new found depth, we will no longer be overplaying our starting XI, and will have the ability to change formation mid-match much more fluidly. Hope to see Kolo at CDM tomorrow as to assess his current capability in that department.
HEY! We're starting to look like a complete squad! Excitement abounds!

49

Temmy

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 09:39 AM - Reply

Pls how old is he again?

48

Don

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 09:10 AM - Reply

My conclusion is this is a professionally astutue and good (as opposed to great) signing. Leaving aside my utter detestation for all things Manchester United for a bit, I'll attempt to explain why.

Mikael Silvestre…..

1.He certainly knows how to play in the prem.
2.He has bags of experience playing at the very highest level.
3.Despite his age, he is pretty fast, i.e. a Wenger type athletic player.
4.He doesn’t shy away from tackling, putting the boot in - he IS a tough no nonsense defender.
5. He provides fantastic defensive cover for at least 3 defending positions.

As I see it he has one weakness which is that he can occasionally lose positional concentration which results in giving free kicks away due to late or mistimed tackling. It will be interesting to see if his adaptation to the way Arsenal plays helps or hinders that aspect of his game.

Nevertheless I now look forward in earnest to our next signing (Inler or last minute bid for Gareth Barry I suspect!?) which I believe will still happen!!!

NB. I have to mention I agree with the comments about your analysis of our playing formation.

And yes, a bit of a blunder in overlooking the singing of our captain Billy Whizz.

NBB. I'm personally getting a bit tired of reading the barrage of 'it was a mistake to let Gilberto go' messages. As good and faithful as he was, he was rapidly losing his pace and was no longer cut out to play at that level. There was no way Gilberto could be utilised as part of our 2008/09 EPL challenge. Both he and Wenger knew that.

47

anonymous

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 08:42 AM - Reply

arsene, pls buy arshavin and inler or else our squad would be lack of depth.

46

maina - Kitale Kenya

Posted on 22 Aug, 2008 at 02:53 AM - Reply

I thought you would say somethin else... We all know Silvestre. We know him. Just the way we know Titus Brumble. We remember his head butting against Ljumberg. We do. Arsenal has class... That I really doubt at the moment. What about pride? We just lost it completely now. We have become a dumping site... I just cant believe that all that Arsenal fans all around the world have been waiting for for all these days was 31yr old Silvestre, sitted on the bench for all season, from ManU, blunder prone, anti-Arsenal... But it also makes the it easy to decide whether our coach should stay.. If we dont win again, he should be rested respectfully

45

Sticky

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 09:57 PM - Reply

Silvestre is not a bad signing at all, adds depth and experience which will hopefully balance the ship, although we do need that much needed midfield general, Barry or Alonso? either will do......... we must have a few quid to spend by now - so come on Arsene tell the board to splash the cash.

44

sonny

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 06:21 PM - Reply

I think its a good signing. Hes a strong defender. Have anyone not seen him playing against Arsenal or other big club. More importantly he has been a winner and we need winning mentality in our team. He will defenitely help youngster in dressing room. 750k is well cheap and i am happy with this signing. but idea of playing three at back is absurd.

43

harvey

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 06:13 PM - Reply

toba and dan. Your talking crap! Wenger is a genius so who are you 2 to question him or judge him? No-ones.

42

AG

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 04:34 PM - Reply

Very sensible signing indeed, a Man Utd defender who can play as full-back and centre-back for £750k!? BARGAIN if you ask me!

People have been harking about our need for depth in defence and Silvestre is the ideal answer, a surprising, yet inspired signing! Fans who are complaining about his arrival are merely doing so due to his career profile with Utd, as well as the alien-face jibes, pretty petty points for not wanting a signing!

They should look at the bigger picture! However, I do not agree with the idea of installing King Kolo as defensive midfielder, and so we definitely need one more signing in that department (Mahamadou DIARRA please Arsene)!

41

Toba:The only Gooner.

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 04:19 PM - Reply

I really do not see any reason why Arsenal should sign Silvestre. He may have a lot of experience in the left full back position, but he makes mistakes and a team like ours that we do not score goals early enough to kill off opposition may be severely punished by Silvestre's mistakes. In his days at ManU, I was always very positive that Arsenal would get goals from his wing whenever he was fielded. I am sure ManU fans will be praying that he is fielded when we are playing them! Wenger should go for players that are not spent. The signing of Silvestre and Bischoff is best descibed as a WASTE. Wenger, please make us happy this season.

40

Dan

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 03:42 PM - Reply

Poor article and even poorer player.

In terms of tactics, what in god's name do you think will make us play 3 at the back? Other than his first few games in charge, when have you ever seen us play that system?

As for Silvestre, I think it highlights Wenger's lack of ability to attract a big name player and also his current opinions on Djourour and Senderos.

39

Bichwa

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 02:27 PM - Reply

I stressed on signing experienced defender but not this type. anyway for those who have been watching Premier, Sylvestre is not a defender in games under tense pressure, he does a lot comedy in there at very vulnerable positions. Guys believe me he will cost the team in some games especialy when paired with our drama defender sendoros. Wenger please let this be last French man in the team and go for some else to fill the midfield vacuum before 31.08

38

Michael

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 02:27 PM - Reply

The addition of Silvestre means that Arsenal can now loan out Traore and that Silvestre can provide cover at fullback, where Arsenal are a little weak. He'll play when someone's injured or needs rest and he'll probably play the Carling Cup games. Look for him to be on the bench most of the time, appearing in the last ten or twenty minutes when we need a little extra defence.

37

Hericoni

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 01:57 PM - Reply

Hey take it easy man! Even if Silvestre is way past his best, he is not that terrible. And people should stop saying bad things about Senderos because its unfair. Senderous is still better than Sammy Hyppia of Liverpool & O'Shea of Man utd and besides if paired with Silvestre, we might actually be shocked because we felt they will do badly but what if it worked? After all, Toure & Gallas partnership is the worst I've seen among the EPL top four CB pairing. We were the same fans crying for an experience player to be signed, now we have one so why still mourning? Silvestre is a good addition as far as i'm concerned so stop making the situation bad and please at least, give credit to Arsene because come the end of the season if all things goes well, you will be the first to praise him.

36

Gooner Bob

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 12:59 PM - Reply

Great signing

Where are you going to get a player of his experience for under a million.A lot of fans dont like the signing because he played for Man Utd and not because of his talent.Those fans are idiots.The same fans who didnt want Sol from the Spuds.

35

Arsenalcentric

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 12:40 PM - Reply

Men i couldn't agree with you more as a Nigerian you just brought tears to my eyes with what you wrote.Adeleye would be a perfect buy for Arsenal.
History is definately repeating itsself.Well said Brother well said

34

JACK CORNES

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 12:31 PM - Reply

I think Mr Silvestre is a good signing for arsenal, he has bowls full of experience in the premier league and he is just the player we need to add depth to our amazing squad, he's 31 and that is just what we need, an old head on young shoulders. I wish him all the best at Arsenal.

33

Chimango in Leicester

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 12:25 PM - Reply

I have been throwing up since I had this last night. This guy is 31 years old. He is prone to blunders (by the way if Wenger is going to pair Silvestre and Senderos in a game, there will be comedy on the field and we will get a whipping. The thing about this comedy is that we will not be laughing - the other team and their fans will be laughing there heads off). I hope that this is not the signing Wenger was talking about. If he wanted to sign ManUtd players he could have persuaded Roy Keane to come out of retirement - at least that could have taken care of Flamini's vacant position; he could have brought in David Beckham from the cold - at least that could have taken care of Hleb's vacated position. But this is ridiculous to say the least. And to think that we let go of Gilberto who can play both at Centre back and defensive midfielder and younger too. We sign this oaf who is too old and blunders all over the pitch. I think this belies what Wenger has been saying that he has money to buy. I think he does not have money to buy players. I think that the apocalypse is upon us. But I will be a goog and faithful gooner to the very end. In fact, after all this comedy is finished and everyone has left the theatre, I will be the one to turn off the lights. (by the way your captchas are as ridiculous as this signing).

32

Muhammad Zahid

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 12:08 PM - Reply

An ordinary article and analysis about our new signing.
I can bet Wenger wont break our system of four defenders and go for 3.5.2 .
Its very simple that he is not an extraordinary signing, he is economical, he is french, he has a bit of utility in as a cover for our two defenders.
Nothing more nothing less

31

walebone

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 11:58 AM - Reply

for me i dont like the signing in the sense that he has no playing chances both in his club and national side in the like of patrick evra and abidal even gael clichy, but we can have him as a puch for clichy sometime to rest clichy, wenger should take it easy the way he signed french players ARSENAL is not a french team....... we also need one more signing, striker or centre half.........

30

campbell

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 11:57 AM - Reply

he'll be the next Campbell!!! Yeah!

29

kev

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 11:27 AM - Reply

I dont think Wenger knows a lot about defenders? thats not part of his thinking.....he was lucky when i first joined us when he had the likes od Adams and Co......

28

Nick

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 11:03 AM - Reply

I like this singing but depends on the wage,
Does anyone know?. My wish was leboss would surprise us with 2 signings as we are wafer thin. Ill be livid if this is the only signing made before the window closes.

27

Hericoni

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 10:59 AM - Reply

Am sure Silvestre's signing has put Wenger under serious questions. Anyway, am not worried because Silvestre will be a very useful player when the time comes but I feel we still need one more experience player in the middle though we have good players who can hold that position but its not enough has injuries will surely happen.

I thought Wenger will be watching the Olympic Soccer tournament because I felt Dele Adeleye will be considered. A Central Back with skills, stamina, height, confidence, tackling & marking. He currently plays for Nigeria's Olympic Squad called Dream Team IV & we will have the chance to watch him play in a very exciting final which will be Nigeria Vs Argentina on Sat. @ 05:00 GMT!!! Don't miss this match because the two teams are full of excellent players like Messy, Riquame, Aguerro etc (Argentina) Versus Nsofor, Odemwingie, Anichebe, Ogbuke, Adeleye etc (Nigeria). These are almost the same set of players who played against themselves in the 2005 under 21 finals & thats to show that these generations will storm the world soon just like Kanu & Ronaldo's set did after playing against themselves in the same Olympic Semi-Finals of 1996. Remember Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Dida etc & Kanu, Amokachi, Babayayo, Okocha? They were in that 1996 set and they've changed the football world afterwards! History is about to repeat itself! GuNnErS-TiLl-I-DiE!!!

26

sulazu

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 10:55 AM - Reply

I'll consider this a good signing in the sense that Silvestre will provide the cover we needed especially at the left back. Except for injury worries, He is not that bad a player. Though many Gooners including Myself were surprised at this move, but it wouldn't have been any better given that Arsenal have not brought in players as many as it has let go. But Wenger should not stop at this, as we expect him to make good his promise of bringing a competent defensive midfielder before the transfer market closes.

25

Jack

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 10:55 AM - Reply

I hope this is not the last signing. What happened to flamini replacement. I no Denilson's doing good but we need backup.

24

Nick

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 10:54 AM - Reply

I like this singing but depends on the wage,
Does anyone know?. My wish was leboss would suprise us with 2 signings as we are wafer thin. Ill be livid if this is the only signing made before the window closes.

23

P Dot Nero

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 10:29 AM - Reply

this is a great signing...
he can play left back and center back..i alwayz thought arsenal will have major problems is clichy ever gets injured...i remember arsene playing senderos at left back one time against bolton..
he is also a great crosser of the ball...remember his ball to rooney when man utd beat us at old trafford???
great signing arsene for only 750k!!...but one more midfilder please

22

Neuro

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 10:18 AM - Reply

Little or no thought to the 3 defenders idea, we're lacking in midfield as it is and the last person to try 3 in defence was good ol' Steve Mclaren.

21

Irish Gooner

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 10:12 AM - Reply

Lads this is a good signing. Lets no forgert Silvestre has played at the very peak of the Premiership, Champions League and also at International level. Yeah he's 31 but footballers day are fitter than they ever were before and I feel it it a good thing when a defender is slightly older because he is not prone to make the naive mistakes that a younger defender will do (Look at Senderos).

Yeah he might not be in the same league as the greats like Adams, Keown and Bold but I don't think AW bought him just to give the man a dig out. He knows he needs to get silverware this year and I don't think he would jepordise that with an off the cuff signing.

20

goonerdino

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 09:40 AM - Reply

he could be our solution to center midfield - ala Emmanuel Pettit??

19

Presidente20

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 09:37 AM - Reply

Poor article. Silvestre and Gallas are not really 'specialists' as you put it. Both have played at centre back an either full back regularly. Silvestre even played left wing for Man U a couple of times. Secondly I doubt your assertion that Silvestre will not get in the team. He's clearly better than Senderos and probably on a par with Gallas plus he'll get games at left back as well. I see him playing 30 odd games in Arsenal's busy season

18

A

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 09:22 AM - Reply

Great thinking ... great tactic ...
go gooners

17

Charlie

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 09:22 AM - Reply

Sorry, but please can you get your facts right? Gallas was over 27 when Wenger signed him, and he is not a 'specialist' because I think you'll find he played full back for us for the first month or two he was at the club.

16

Ole Gunner

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 09:21 AM - Reply

The guy is shite. Experienced shite is even worse. He's experienced at being shite. That means he'll do shite consistently. At least with an inexperienced shite player, you can coach the shite away.

Maybe Wenger is losing it after all.

15

Anders Limpar

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 09:08 AM - Reply

Remi Garde, Oleg Luzhny and Davor Suker were over 27

14

Cam

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 09:03 AM - Reply

well constructed analysis - what about the defensive midfield option AW seemed to promise? An addition like Cana or Alonso would put the finishing touches on a squad to challenge for the title.

13

Mat S

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:52 AM - Reply

I have no doubt that this is an astute signing, but as far as I am concerned it still doesn't address the midfield issue. We can wax lyrical about Denilson until we're blue in the face, but he's not going to make it through 50+ games, and if we get injuries we've got a real problem. Unless he's thinking of moving Silverstre into the centre and putting Toure in midfield, I think we'll have another one please Arsene.

12

maria

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:49 AM - Reply

i dont understand we can use mikeal 2 completely channge our system but we shouldnt worry about his giving away of 2 many freekicks and penaties because he wouldnt play it doesnt make sense!!!!

11

hagane

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:43 AM - Reply

I think the last time Wenger signed a player over 27 was two years ago with William Gallas.

10

tungamirai bizah

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:41 AM - Reply

well,well,well guess who has sold us a defender? i think we such players when we need to protect our score.look at how we collapsed after panicking against liverpool at Anfield in the champions league when all we required was composure at the back so a player of his magnitude has played at high level for over a decade.i think he will be good cover even if we want to attack he can play left back and we push Clichy foward for options.

9

Harry Barracuda

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:40 AM - Reply

Blinkers pal. He's old, slow and shit. Wenger has brought him in to do an old French pal a favour.

The only good thing AW can do with him is make him captain for a day and drop Billy Whizz for his shameful attack on Djourou the other day.

8

Dandan

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:37 AM - Reply

I think your wrong, he will play at centre half and allow Kolo to play in front of the back four as a defensive midfielder

7

frank

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:36 AM - Reply

it wont work he is now too slow thats why man.u let him go to lighten their wage bill and their injury prone players list.

6

Dunc

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:31 AM - Reply

Hmmm, good luck with Silvestre playing in a back 3! Not good enough against the better teams. Torres, Drogba, Rooney and even Agbonlahor would rip em apart.. I always am surprised (pleasantly, to a degree - I am a Reds man) every year at Arsenals ability to play good football and place well in the League but they wont get away with a 3 man backline! However, do agree they are light on on options defensively and Silvestre may be a solid squad player for them, even if to just rest their regulars in 'easier' matches. Nothing lost if it doesnt work and Manu u lose nothing by letting him go.. Sensible signing indeed.

5

Sajith

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:26 AM - Reply

Okay Joe, But... damn... its....Sylvester!!!!
it makes no sense to me that, AW has let Gilberto Go, and now doing this. 3-5-2 would have comfortably work with gilberto as DM.
By the way , in the picture above he look like an Ox.

4

Frank and Beans

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:26 AM - Reply

Dude... this article is rubbish! Let me tell you for why…

1. We signed William Gallas from a top 4 rival at the age of?
2. You think he buys players to not play? How can we “play three at the back with Silvestre, Gallas and Sagna” if he doesn’t? how about Toure – our best defender!
3. 3-5-2 – enough with the chump manager… Ade is practically built to play as a lone striker!! And we have too many attack minded midfielders to not play 5 in the middle against the best teams – that’s why we play it! And we need 4 at the back as we are still leaking plenty of goals…

You should stick to PC management and procrastinating with your ignorant mates in the pub - who only agree with your rubbish out of pity and shame…

3

tunde

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:23 AM - Reply

how can he sigh this man for us,we need experience midfieder not defender pls talk to the great man mr wenger to buy it for us plsssssssssss

2

Cheexyn

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:19 AM - Reply

And #4 it has been over 30 years since Arsenal and United traded players, not12

1

kukun

Posted on 21 Aug, 2008 at 08:16 AM - Reply

i totally agreed. main reason this signing is to make over for clichy.rest clichy and push up clichy to attack.
silvestre also good if toure absent.
french line up in arsenal - sagna-gallas-silvestre-clichy

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