Gooner Talk

Summer signings Amaury Bischoff and Mikael Silvestre are set to make their Arsenal debuts tonight – in a reserve game against Stoke City.

Bischoff, 21, signed on a free transfer after his contract expired at Werder Bremen while former Manchester United defender Silvestre, signed towards the end of August after agreeing a move.

Both players have had a previous catalogue of injuries under their old clubs, but tonight can possible build them up as the season starts to get into full force.

Reserves boss Neil Banfield spoke to Arsenal.com ahead of the well-awaited tie at Underhill.

“The manager thought Bischoff and Silvestre need a game. Mikael asked to play, he’s a good pro and he feels he needs a run-out so that will be good for him. Amaury will play as part of his rehabilitation so everything is coming along fine.”

Confirmed Starting XI

Szczesny
Ayling – Bartley – Silvestre – Gibbs
Bischoff – Coquelin – Randall – Wilshere
Fonte – Simpson

Stoke have also named a strong side with Vincent Pericard, Tom Soares, Danny Pugh and Wales centre back Ryan Shawcross playing against his ex-team-mate Mikael Silvestre.

Arsenal TV will be broadcasting the game, so if you’re signed up to the Setanta Sports Package on satellite, tune in to channel 432 at 6:30pm [GMT] tonight.

As usual, you can catch all the pre and post match action over at our good friends, Young Guns.

Arsene Wenger told Sky Sports News that he has no interest in letting any more players leave the club and won’t recruit any more bodies into the paper-thin Arsenal squad before deadline day ends in the next 4 hours.

The 58-year-old Frenchman was speaking before the Arsenal Reserve side took on Chelsea at Undehill – a fixture that Wenger was in Barnet to watch.

When asked if he was buying anyone Wenger gave a straight-up answer:

“No”

The Sky Sports News reporter immediately questioned if there was going to be any players leaving the club, Wenger replied:

“No, I’ve got to go I’m really busy”

Many Arsenal fans have witnessed Wenger sealing last minute deals in the past, with the likes of William Gallas and Julio Baptista putting pen to paper during the closing hours of transfer deadline day.

We will see if Wenger sticks to his words, but as I said above, Arsenal are renowned for doing their business extremely late.