Yesterday on ArseSpeak we mentioned that Silvestre had played his first game – for the Reserves. Silvestre started at centre-back as they beat Stoke City 3 – 2 at home.

Read the match report here at Young Guns.

After making his first apperance Silvestre told the press:

“I feel good, I got through the 90 minutes without any discomfort or pain and physically I felt at the same level as my team-mates so it felt good.

“The boss asked me if I wanted to play because it was a long time since I last played competitively, back in August or July with United. Before I get back with the first team it was good for me to play and get something other than training.

“It was a perfect run-out before playing with the first team. It is a good level in the Reserve League and getting to know my young team-mates was a good experience.

“It is not a surprise [to see how good the young players are] because most of the first team are 20, 21-year-olds so the quality is always there. I expected the same quality in the Reserves and most of them train with the first team so I knew them already.

“It is the way the Club is set up, everything is done to play good attacking football so the players enjoy it and you just have to make sure you give 100 per cent in the challenge because if you don’t get the ball you can’t play the nice football.”

It’s good to see SIlvestre back in action. He is a quality player – and although he’s getting on a bit – he has class and experience which may be important to the Arsenal team this year.

I believe that our chances of winning the League this year are diminishing – but there’s no way we are out of the race. Players like SIlvestre could make all the difference.

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