Silvestre: Young Guns can ‘grow up’ and win title

MIKAEL SILVESTRE insists Arsenal have time to “grow up” this season and remain very much in the race for both European and Barclays Premier League glory.

A much-changed Gunners side — missing the likes of captain Cesc Fabregas as well as strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Robin van Persie — suffered a 2-0 defeat in Porto last night, which scuppered hopes of top spot in Champions League Group G, and with it seeding for the knockout stages.

Nevertheless, manager Arsene Wenger defended his selection policy, made with one eye on tomorrow’s early kick-off away at Middlesbrough, and insists his young squad have what it takes to make further inroads in the competition.

Finishing second is, of course, not necessarily a hindrance to progression, as Chelsea will also contest. Nor would drawing the likes of Juventus, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Roma or Panathinaikos — all sides Arsenal are, on their day, more than capable of matching.

The Gunners will, however, have to play the second leg away from home.

And while they came unstuck against Liverpool at Anfield in the quarter-finals last season, Wenger’s men can point to the fact they have also produced fine performances to secure the away results they needed in the past, against both Juventus and Villarreal in the run to the 2006 Champions League final when they also recorded a stunning 1-0 win at Real Madrid.

Nevertheless, there is no escaping Wednesday’s below-par performance again raised questions about the strength in depth of this young squad and its staying power.

However, Silvestre, the 31-year-old former Manchester United defender who has seen what it takes to win titles, maintains there is more to come from this Arsenal side.

“The season is long. It is difficult if you judge the team on Wednesday because you cannot expect to perform like that and win anything,” he said.

“But the squad is big and there are going to be different games, there are going to be points to catch — on the road to Middlesbrough first of all.

“It is going to be tough, but we have got time to grow up and we made it difficult for ourselves. However, we are still in the race.

“We proved against Manchester United and Chelsea that the quality is there, so we just have to get the consistency.”

Arsenal head to Middlesbrough looking to record a third successive Premier League win and to perhaps claw back some of the eight points they now trail leaders Liverpool.

The Reds then come to Emirates Stadium the following Sunday in a match which could go a long way to shaping the Gunners’ titles ambitions.

With a fully-fit squad to chose from, Wenger knows his men do have the ability to overhaul such a deficit.

However, after five league defeats already this season — yet none against their direct title rivals — there is now little margin for error.

Fabregas could be available for the trip to Teesside after the midfielder did not travel to Portugal because of concerns over a knee problem.

Winger Samir Nasri is, though, set to miss the game — and also potentially the Liverpool encounter — following yet another ankle problem suffered against Wigan last weekend.

Of the others who stayed behind, full-back Gael Clichy (hamstring) and centre-half Kolo Toure (calf) are expected to have recovered for tomorrow’s game.

Right-back Bacary Sagna has been laid low with a bout of flu, and Van Persie (thigh) was not risked.

Adebayor, whose 10th goal of the season beat Wigan last weekend, was rested and should return to lead the attack at the Riverside Stadium.