Mikaël Silvestre is expecting his return to Manchester United as an Arsenal player to be emotional. The defender could start against his former employers in tomorrow night's Champions League semi-final at Old Trafford after recovering from a minor back complaint picked up during Sunday's 2-0 win over Middlesbrough in the Premier League.
There was further good news for Arsenal when Tomas Rosicky was also able to train today as he attempts to continue his recuperation from the hamstring problem that has kept him out of the side for over a year. Meanwhile, Silvestre's recovery means that Arsenal have no injury worries before the tie.
"It is going to be weird going into the visitors' changing room, to see the supporters and all the people who work at the club again," said the defender of his old club. "It is going to be moving. Nine years at one club, it's a long time, it is a part of my life. And it isn't any old club, it is a legendary club.
"I could have stayed for my 10th year and had my testimonial. [The move] surprised everyone but I wanted a new challenge. Ferguson did me a favour, he had never done it before," he added.
The former France defender quit United after nine successful years at Old Trafford to join the Gunners for an undisclosed fee last August, becoming the first player to move between the clubs in that direction since Brian Kidd in 1974. Although both clubs adopt a similar attacking philosophy on the pitch, Silvestre claims the pair are worlds apart in other respects.
"In playing terms, they are replicas of each other as they put the onus on going forward, but after that, they have two different principles," said Silvestre.
"At United, the squad is built in little stages but always around their pillars, [Paul] Scholes, [Ryan] Giggs and [Gary] Neville. They are the club's identity, their points of reference on the pitch and in the changing room.
"At Arsenal, it functions more by generations. There has been that of [Patrick] Vieira, [Robert] Pires, [Thierry] Henry. Now it is that of [Cesc] Fábregas, [Theo] Walcott, [Alex] Song, [Aaron] Ramsey. We give responsibility to these youngsters very early and we let them grow together. At Arsenal, youth isn't just an excuse.
"In the changing room, it is simple – to my left is [Jack] Wilshere, who is 16, and to my right is Ramsey, who is 18. We talk about things like the latest video games. It's good – I feel young again."
