SILVA PLOTTING TO STRIKE GOLD

MARCO SILVA was a 19-year-old full-back in his first year as a professional with Belenenses, in Portugal, when Arsene Wenger took over at Arsenal.

At teatime, Watford’s head coach – whose managerial career in English football stretches to just 30 games – will take on the Gunners’ veteran of 1,186

matches, insisting the Hornets will have no inferiority complex. Earlier this week, Wenger reached his 21st anniversary with the Gunners, and Silva, now 40, said: “In today’s football, it would be impossible to match his 21 years with the same club. It is a fantastic achievement.

“Now, when you look at Arsenal’s culture, you are looking at Wenger’s culture because they have been together so many years. “But I don’t need to convince my players they can beat a team with Arsenal’s resources. I see them training every day and they know it’s important to have the humility to understand this type of challenge.

“We will need to play almost a perfect game to get a good result, but a coach needs to know his way and to believe in it.”

Silva (above) was in charge of Olympiakos in 2015 when Wenger “rested” Petr Cech and the Greeks pulled off a shock 3-2 win at the Emirates (top) in the Champions League.

“It was a very good night but, under different conditions, they beat us in Athens,” added the Hornets boss.

“And when I went back with Hull last season, we had a very good performance but not much luck.”