Morning,
so Mikael Silvestre is a an Arsenal player. How very odd. The club confirmed the signing of the former United man yesterday for a fee believed to be around £750,000 and he signed a 2 year deal. Arsene Wenger said:
We have a strong squad but a young squad and Mikael’s versatility, experience and calibre will provide the extra depth we need to reinforce our challenge for honours this season.
I have to admit being somewhat underwhelmed by this signing. Leaving aside the personal enmity I have felt for the player during his United days I’m asking why Alex Ferguson would sell him to us. Reverse the situation – would we sell United a player who we thought would improve them? It would be extremely foolish of us to do so, wouldn’t it? And whatever you might think of Demento he’s no fool. Does he believe Silvestre is past it or is he just not that worried about us?
The player’s injury record over the last couple of seasons has been poor as well and as a club that seems to suffer rather too much from injuries I’d have thought the last thing we needed was to give more work to Colin Lewin.
Then I look at the fact that the only other clubs interested in him were Sunderland and Manchester City and I just can’t help feeling we’re scratching around in the bargain bins again. I don’t think too many people would argue that our defence could do with some improvement but if the boss is really serious about it wouldn’t he be better off bringing in somebody better than a United cast-off? Where is our Vidic or Agger or Laursen?
It really is a very strange deal altogether and I’m struggling to see the logic of it – especially when you read about us letting Djourou, who has impressed in pre-season, go out on loan because we have Silvestre now.
Maybe though Silvestre has a point to prove, maybe it will prove a Wenger masterstroke, maybe he’ll do very well for us, but at the moment I can’t really think about anything other than the fact that I guy I hated at Manchester United is now wearing the number 18 shirt at Arsenal. It’s weird but then as ‘holic pointed out some weeks back players have come to Arsenal from Sp*rs and won the crowd over. Let’s see what Silvestre can do.
On the other hand I don’t believe that that’s our transfer business done for the summer. Arsene Wenger was in Switzerland to watch Switzerland play Cyprus, perhaps looking at Gokhan Inler. He might also have taken note of the fact that Xabi Alonso scored twice for Spain last night. I think the midfielder is still coming so between that signing and the Silvestre one the squad would be in better shape.
Reaction to the Silvestre signing from Frank McLintock (who reckons he’s just what we need) and United’s Wes Brown.
What do you think about the Silvestre signing? If you feel like leaving a voicemail for the Arsecast the lines are open all day. The number from inside the UK is 020 3286 6360 or from outside the UK it’s +44 20 3286 6360. I’ll use some of them (not all) in tomorrow’s Arsecast – please try and keep them under 60 seconds, thanks.
Update: Got enough for the moment. Thanks for all the calls.
You’ll remember last week we did a competition to win copies of the book Arsènal – by Alex Flynn and Online Gooner ed Kevin Witcher. Just to remind you that Arseblog readers can get over £2 off the £12.99 publishers’ online price, making the book £10.91 plus postage and packing. Of the money you save, over £1 per copy will be donated to the Cancer Research UK charity in memory of David Rocastle – and so far we’ve raised over £100.
To buy the book online, simply click here and select ‘buy now’. In the window that opens enter the word rocky in the promotion code box and your £2 will be discounted when you press the ‘go’ box next to it.
Right, well that’s really about it. The Silvestre signing has certainly got people talking. Finally for today birthday greetings to the nefarious Mugsmasher, smasher of all mugs. He’s grown up so fast … *sniff sniff*
More tomorrow.
