Mikael Silvestre believes his ex-teammate Patrice Evra lacked respect towards some Arsenal stars when he called The Gunners ‘children’. Red Devils left back Evra labelled the Champions League semi-final, second leg with Arsenal a game between ‘adults and children’ as Manchester United progressed to the final. But Arsenal centrel defender Silvestre is not happy with his compatriot’s declarations and has backed his team-mates to bounce back and prove themselves next term.

Silvestre said: “I think it is a lack of respect to players like Kolo Toure, Emmanuel Adebayor or Robin van Persie. They are not babies, they are over 25.”

He added: “For sure, conceding a goal early in the game was a blow, but we have to remember that we were without William Gallas, Gael Clichy and Andrei Arshavin.”

“It would have been a different story if they had been there. It is up to us to show next season that he (Evra) is wrong and that Arsenal can win silverware playing our football.”