Mikael Silvestre enjoyed a stellar career at Manchester United before joining Premier League rivals Arsenal, having featured in some of the most heated battles ever between the rival clubs
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Mikael Silvestre and Sir Alex Ferguson
Mikael Silvestre spent nine successful years at Manchester United
(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United and Arsenal's Premier League showdowns may not hold the same importance as they once did - but their meetings still regularly throw up some of the top flight's most thrilling spectacles.
Ruben Amorim’s United have the opportunity to end Arsenal’s already-fading title hopes once and for all on Sunday. Mikel Arteta's men, however, are expected to put up a fierce fight at Old Trafford.
Mikael Silvestre, who has the distinction of playing for both historic English clubs, will be keeping a particularly close eye on the fixture this weekend. The former defender, 47, spent 12 years in the English top flight, having been signed by Sir Alex Ferguson from Inter Milan for £4million in 1999.
The versatile Frenchman won the Champions League, FA Cup and five Premier League titles during his nine-year spell in a Red Devils shirt. But in 2008, he made a shock transfer to their rivals - the Gunners - thanks to the influence of fellow countryman Arsene Wenger, who managed Arsenal.
While he only donned the Arsenal colours 43 times over two seasons, he still holds affection for the north London club. However, Silvestre admits that his allegiance unsurprisingly leans more towards United thanks to his successful and lengthy career there.
Silvestre joined Arsenal in 2008(Image: GETTY )
During an appearance on talkSPORT last year, hosts Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent asked Silvestre which club he supports more. He responded: "When you have been travelling as much as I did, you still look back and support the clubs you played for.
"But, as you know, nine years at United is a long time in one career. If you asked me to pick, it would be more United, but I had a great time at Arsenal."
When asked by Goldstein to choose who he’d rather play for now to win the Premier League, Silvestre didn't hesitate, saying: "I would go to Arsenal right now. I am not a patient guy!" And on whether he thinks Arsenal will lift the league title before United, he simply stated: "Yes."
6. Manchester Utd 0-0 Arsenal 21-09-2003
Silvestre was involved in some of the most bitter fixtures between the two clubs(Image: Getty)
Few players have had the privilege of playing for both iconic clubs in the Premier League era. Alexis Sanchez might be the biggest name in recent memory but Danny Welbeck, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Andy Cole and Robin van Persie are others to have worn both jerseys with varying degrees of success.
While the bitter resentment built up during Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger's long tenures remains fresh in the memory of fans, the once-fiery fixture has mellowed in recent years. Factors such as Arsenal’s diminishing dominance and United’s more recent woes have played a key part. While Arsenal have competed for the title in each of the last three campaigns and are second in the league, the Red Devils are currently struggling in the bottom half of the table.