SILVA KNOWS HOW TO BEAT WENGER... HE’SDONEITBEFORE

MARCO SILVA aims to find Arsene Wenger’s Achilles heel for a second time and add to the Arsenal manager’s problems.

Silva outwitted master tactician Wenger 17 months ago while at Olympiakos when he plotted a 3-2 Champions League win. A repeat as Hull boss at the Emirates today will turn up the heat on Wenger, whose faltering team have fallen 12 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea following successive defeats. And Silva knows what it takes to get the better of Wenger, who will be sitting uncomfortably in the stands while serving a touchline ban for pushing a fourth official. Not that he is giving much away as he seeks to extend his run to just one defeat in five league outings since replacing the sacked Mike Phelan at the KCOM Stadium. The Portuguese said: “Going to the Emirates and winning with Olympiakos holds a good memory for me and, of course, I studied the Arsenal team and prepared for that game in the same way I do with every opponent. “But I don’t say any more than that – except to tell you what I told my players before beating Arsenal that time, ‘Never be scared of playing the big teams. Go out there and relish this moment’. “Of course, I respect Arsene Wenger. He is a great coach, one of the best in football. But I respect every opponent. “We will show Arsenal the same respect as all teams we play, but I don’t want my players to be afraid. “I want them to fight to take the points, just as they have done in every game since I came here. “Sometimes the other teams are better, and their quality makes it impossible to play our game. But we aim to be at our best.” With a section of Arsenal fans calling for Wenger to go, Silva added: “I don’t know if this is a good time to play Arsenal. The results for them in the last two games aren’t good. “But now they want to change the situation and we need to keep our focus, our spirit and fight for the points. “We have kept clean sheets in our last two games and shown a fantastic attitude. “It’s important we keep our organisation because it is impossible to win games if you don’t. We shall be properly prepared.”