Wenger Signs Frenchman - Football World In Shock

Mikael Silvestre has made a surprise move from Old Trafford to Ashburton Grove (or more comically known as The Emirates), and has become the first player to make the move between the fierce rivals since Brian Kidd in 1974.

The transfer is a curious one. At the start of last season, Silvestre vowed to stay and fight for his place, but unfortunately suffered a serious injury that kept him out for most of the season. Patrice Evra in that time established himself as one of the best left backs in both The Premier League and Europe. This time around, Silvestre has been more keen on a transfer, and has agreed to join Arsene Wenger's young squad to add some much needed experience.

There are questions over why Sir Alex Ferguson has allowed Silvestre to join his arch-rivals, particularly after the fiasco of the Gabriel Heinze transfer. Heinze had requested a transfer, with a view to joining arch rivals Liverpool - however Ferguson, whilst willing to let Heinze leave, would not allow him to join Liverpool. Heinze made an official complaint to The Premier League over the transfer, but in the end Manchester United won the battle and Heinze was sent to Real Madrid. So if Heinze was prevented from joining Liverpool, how has Silvestre managed to join Arsenal?

There is an argument that Ferguson does not consider Arsenal to be major title rivals. This is rubbish. Ferguson would certainly not have considered Liverpool to be major title rivals either, yet stopped the Heinze transfer.

Perhaps as Silvestre has spent so many years at Old Trafford, Ferguson believes he knows his game well enough to not consider Silvestre a problem in joining Arsenal. Let's be fair, Silvestre has his fair share of weaknesses.

The more likely reasoning, is that Silvestre is certainly not going to be first choice at Arsenal, and so will not strengthen their side proficiently. His strength, pace and experience will help in covering positions in the Arsenal defence, and helping to develop their young players, but he will not be competing against Gael Clichy at left-back, nor Kolo Toure and William Gallas at centre-back.