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Mikael's two-year spell with Arsenal ended in the summer of 2010.
The French defender is one of the most decorated footballers in Premier League history and was, for a time, the most experienced man in the Arsenal squad.
He joined the Club from Manchester United in August 2008 and proved to be a valuable squad member; his versatility saw him operate at left back as well as in his more familiar centre-back role.
Calm in possession, strong in the air and an excellent reader of the game, Mikael was also a threat at the other end of the pitch during his time with Arsenal and scored twice in his first season at Emirates Stadium.
He endeared himself to Arsenal fans with a header against Tottenham and tucked away a neat finish in a 4-1 win at Wigan. He repeated the trick at the DW Stadium a year later, a few months before his contract expired.
Before moving to Arsenal, Mikael had been with Manchester United since 1999, winning a host of domestic honours including four Premier League titles, one FA Cup winner's medal and a League Cup winner's medal.
He was also part of the Champions League-winning side of 2008 and made a total of 361 appearances for the United, scoring 10 goals.
Silvestre, who debuted for French national side in 2001, made a total of 40 appearances for Les Bleus. The highlights of his international career include winning the Confederations Cup in both 2001 and 2003 and reaching the World Cup Final in 2006.
