Arsenal-Mania

Silvestre reveals reason for move to Arsenal

By Jonathan Chong on Monday, September 15, 2008

Defender Mikael Silvestre says that the reason for him moving to Arsenal was due to the lack of playing opportunities at his former club.

He was also keen to help part his experience down to the younger players, and says that he's looking forward to performing for his new club.

It was also revealed that manager Arsčne Wenger has agreed a central-role for Silvestre, removing speculation that he was signed as back-up to Gaël Clichy.

Silvestre said: "Arsčne Wenger wants me to play more centrally and that's fine by me.

"I wasn't having enough opportunities at United, even if Sir Alex Ferguson wanted me to stay. But I wanted to play a bit more which is why I felt it was time to move.

"I'll also have the chance to help the younger players.

"Experience comes naturally as you develop and the younger guys will look up to senior players like myself and William Gallas as we're the ones who have been around for a while."

User Comments

24

davie

Posted on 19 Sep, 2008 at 07:47 AM - Reply

i have my reservations about him....but all the best!

23

dw

Posted on 18 Sep, 2008 at 02:10 PM - Reply

arsenal should try and get diarra back from pompy
.wenger has turn a good holding player in daby in 2 a forward thinking player by playing him on the left all last year and song can do a good job but i still think hes good cover player.

22

Alfredo Chembele Adriano

Posted on 17 Sep, 2008 at 08:24 AM - Reply

as a big arsenal fan, my concern has always been with our difence.. i just cant see how sylvester is the solution, come on guys for sure we need experience at the back but not him... all this past few seasons blunders at the back costs us the title...the difence should be made strong by signing diffenders who do not make mistakes....

21

okunlola olaniyi saheed

Posted on 16 Sep, 2008 at 09:39 PM - Reply

it is really good to have an experience guy like silvestre around.i just hope he will live up to expectation cos now he has not much to learn but we expect all he has will be of good use to us.

20

killio

Posted on 16 Sep, 2008 at 09:06 PM - Reply

Silvestre is not a defensive midfielder! Ben4arsenal
you are very wrong! no way would i put him there he is god awful on the ball but he is a good defender! so i would put him on the left back not in midfield !

19

abbeygonner

Posted on 16 Sep, 2008 at 01:22 PM - Reply

i think he can help clichi over at the left flank and he play defensive game

18

situma jones

Posted on 16 Sep, 2008 at 11:06 AM - Reply

sylvester is like a lost sheep that has come back home and given a chance by wenger i believe that he wil deliver. we need his expirience and confidence in the defence

17

femi

Posted on 16 Sep, 2008 at 10:54 AM - Reply

wenger knows best

16

milz

Posted on 16 Sep, 2008 at 10:01 AM - Reply

eboue gets so much shit if u guys stop and watch, he has performed well in all 4 games that he has played im not saying he is the best but he is good enough

15

Mad Matt

Posted on 16 Sep, 2008 at 07:54 AM - Reply

There's no reason to be negative. Silvestre is a good, solid defender. He's good in the air and has pace. Wenger knows.

14

john kelly

Posted on 16 Sep, 2008 at 07:19 AM - Reply

its better to see him

13

Ben4arsenal

Posted on 16 Sep, 2008 at 02:08 AM - Reply

I would much rather have Silvestre in than have eboue or denilson (who's jsut not quite ready yet), although i thought eboue actually had a decent game against blackburn, yep i said, even i can't believe it. Once Nasri is fit, he'll oust eboue from the wing and then silvestre will play the defensive midfielder, should tighten up our defensive, denilson just gets pushed around so much.

12

kill94

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 05:18 PM - Reply

silvestre is injured!

11

ShifuArsenal

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 04:02 PM - Reply

Mikael, must be doing something right? He has won 5 permier league titles with Man U plays regularly for France and is deemed worthy of a place in the Arsenal team by the best manager in the league.
I prefer to pass judgement on MS contribution towards Arsenal over the course of the season not before he has kicked a ball for Arsenal

10

Jean Themmy

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 03:53 PM - Reply

Guys we should not be too negative towards every new signing such as Sylvester. Let us see what he will do, he might surprise us and contribute to the quality already we have in this team. Remember dressing room need good atmosphere and if the environment at Emirates is better than at Old Trafford he can actually play better as well. Let it go and let us see the outcome from there we can surely comment. let us support these guys and they will do all their best to win games but if we keep complaints then they will get tired of us. Come on guns shoot more and more we need goals. wishing you a successful season

9

DjScaly

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 03:46 PM - Reply

All very well if he can perform at centre back but only if wenger has the balls to drop gallas for him and not toure. Toure is Arsenal through and through and a complete legend if hes paired with someone whos good in the air then we'l ave a much more solid defense. Not sure how good silvestre will be partnered with him but wont be hard for him to be better then gallas at the moment.

8

Robert

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 03:18 PM - Reply

We will have to wait and see. Surely a player of his experience could have something to offer us. We are really shaky at the back whilst we have a good midfield and a classy forward. Let's give the guy a chance ! !

7

RS

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 03:06 PM - Reply

with clichy a doubt for the CL game tom night, are you all seriously not happy we have some solid experienced cover at LB ?!?! wake up fools !

6

delboy

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 03:05 PM - Reply

give him a chance, you might be pleasantly surprised

5

Mason

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 02:09 PM - Reply

Your negativity to this man is pathetic. 1. he is not a bad player 2. he certainly aint a bad squad player 3. our centre backs r rubbish anyway i dont think anybody in the prem has worse positionin than Gallas (even Titus bramble has better positionin). You where prob all the same people last season who complained we have no depth in the team. Bet u all by the end of this season Sivestre will of helped us along somewhere down the line.

4

Caelestis

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 12:59 PM - Reply

I still can't believe we signed this man from mars. Personally, I don't see a need for such mediocrity. Me sphinx, me smells a rat ... There must be more to this matter than Wenger, Fergusson, Silvestre are letting on. Maybe something to do with the Aaron Ramsey transfer.

3

mode8

Posted on 15 Sep, 2008 at 12:01 PM - Reply

There's just nothing in sylvester which makes him a good pliya. He doesn't have anything to add to the young players because with all his experience thay are still better than he is, now the worst pliya that Arsenal has. Let him play carling cup in central defence.