Mikael Silvestre is ready to ease Arsenal's defensive crisis after an ankle injury to left-back Kieran Gibbs.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger will be keeping his fingers crossed no more players are struck down during Wednesday's internationals - having seen Dutch striker Robin van Persie suffer ankle ligament damage which will sideline him until probably early January. England Under-21 international Gibbs was pencilled in for an extended first-team run following Gael Clichy's back problem, before the injury which forced him out of the European Championship qualifier in Vilnius on Tuesday night.
"It is always difficult to stay on the bench, but that is part of playing at the high level," Silvestre told Arsenal TV Online.
"You have to get on with it, and that is what I have been doing.
"It is always a test, whether you will be ready when it is going to be your time and you never know when that will be."
Silvestre added: "I feel good, fully fit.
"I just do what I have been doing - training hard and support the team.
"The pressure is higher because even if you are training hard, it is not like playing games.
"But as long as you enjoy it, then the rest will come."
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