How many have swapped Man United for Arsenal?

Earlier this week it was announced that Mikael Silvestre had swapped Manchester United for Arsenal. He became the fifth player in recent memory to do so directly, with the others experiencing various degrees of success.

We have listed the other players below.

Jimmy Rimmer
Man Utd (1967-72): 46 apps - Arsenal (1973-76): 146 apps
The Lancashire born goalkeeper's Old Trafford highlight was a spot on the bench for the 1968 European Cup Final, but with his chances limited he went first on loan to Swansea City, before joining the Gunners. At Highbury he replaced the retired Bob Wilson as the Club's No 1. It was with Arsenal he won his solitary England cap. He left North London for Aston Villa.

Brian Kidd
Man Utd (1967-73): 264 apps, 70 goals - Arsenal (1974-76): 90 apps, 34 goals
Like Rimmer, Brian Kidd was part of the 1968 European Cup Final squad. His time with United, though, was much more successful than the stopper. His time with Arsenal was short and he headed back up north, this time to play for Manchester City. Kidd went on to form part of Sir Alex Ferguson's backroom staff.

Jim Leighton
Man Utd (1988-93): 94 apps - Arsenal (1991 loan): 0 apps
Leighton started his career at Aberdeen under Sir Alex Ferguson, and followed his manager to Manchester in 1998. Unfortunately Jim found life at United harder than he had in Scotland and found his chances limited by Les Sealey in goal. Arsenal was his first loan stop, that later included a time at Reading.

Matt Wicks
Man Utd (1995): 0 apps, 0 goals - Arsenal (1996): 0 apps, 0 goals
Wicks was touted as 'the next Tony Adams' having graduated from the FA Centre of Excellence. Despite an attachment to Arsenal, joined Manchester United in 1995. Court cases over the move ensued and Matt eventually returned to the Gunners without featuring at Old Trafford. A similar fate occured at Highbury with Wicks eventually joining Crewe Alexandra.

Mikael Silvestre
Man Utd (1999-2008): 361 apps, 10 goals - Arsenal (2008): 0 apps, 0 goals
Mikael enjoyed nine very successful years at Old Trafford, earning four Premier League winners medals. He became a fixture in the French national time while at Old Trafford and is Arsenal's fifth signing of the summer.

Can YOU think of any that we have missed? Drop us an email at website@arsenal.co.uk and let us know!

[Thursday, August 21, 2008]

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