Papers: Ex-Red relishes test

Mikael's mission
Mikael Silvestre insists he cannot wait to gun down his former team-mates in the Champions League semi-final. Arsenal defender Silvestre is relishing the chance to play Manchester United tomorrow after a nine-year spell at Old Trafford. And he is backing the fresh-faced Gunners to win the tie. Silvestre, 31, said: "I’m looking forward to tackling all of the United team - they were all my mates. This game means a lot to me. We are on a good run and are confident of reaching the final." - The Sun

Other players quoted in today's papers include Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who describes his direct opponent in Wednesday's match, Nemanja Vidic, as "the toughest (defender) I have played against" (The Sun).

Meanwhile, Rio Ferdinand's desire to repeat last season's success in Europe makes the Mirror: "It was such a great feeling, I told the players, let's do it again." Also in the Mirror, ex-Liverpool defender and now BBC Match of the Day pundit Mark Lawrenson is backing United to beat Arsenal over two legs and face Chelsea in the final ("Fergie just two good").

There's more reaction to Ryan Giggs' PFA award, ranging from the Daily Mail's "Giggs has started only 12 league matches... so how can he be footballer of the year?" to the Daily Star's "Make Giggsy a Sir." The latter reports MPs Hazel Blears and Chris Grayling are backing a campaign to give the Welshman a knighthood.

The Independent speculates about Nani's future at United, claiming it is in "in increasing doubt after he left Old Trafford before the end of Saturday's game, having been substituted at half time. The 22-year-old is understood to have been "very upset" after Sir Alex Ferguson did not send him out for the second half against Tottenham."