Arsene Wenger, Football and Fifa 08.
I’ve just been reading an interview republished by the Guardian in the UK with “Doctor†Arsene Wenger [Source: http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2180175,00.html originally published in the Observer]. It’s a great interview in which Arsene talks about a great deal of topical football material, including new dimensions on Thierry Henry’s departure to Barcelona, the Wenger legacy, and the morals of football. This interview clearly demonstrates why Wenger is one of the greatest football managers in the world – he sees beyond the money and the hype that surrounds the game, to the true nature and purpose of football.
For Wenger, football is entertainment, and football clubs are the means in which the game is distributed to fans. Arsene believes the football is not owned by wealthy Russian tycoons or other American investors, but is wholly owned by thousands of people who fill the stadiums each week.
Like many Arsenal fans, I share a similar point of view. This view may differ from the view held by the hierarchy in charge of clubs like Chelsea and Real Madrid. Sure, football can be about winning trophies, grinding out uninspiring 1-0 victories, but Arsenal are showing that it is more than that – it is about playing the game beautifully.
I could probably talk for eons on this subject, but I’d like to highlight some of what Wenger said in this interview.
Wenger on lack of English players in the top English teams.
I think it’s a fundamental problem of quality. But why aren’t there good players from England? Someone has to do something. It’s not normal that a kid coming from South Africa or Brazil is better than those here. It’s what I’m trying to do with the academy at Arsenal… and it’s that area that Brooking has analysed fairly and objectively: he says let’s bring up some English kids who are as good as those who come from abroad. Those young English players will be of a good enough quality as soon as I go and see the French under-17s and I say to myself, no I’m not going to take that player there, because I have an English boy who is under 17 and as good as him. But one of the beautiful things in sport is being able to say: ‘Why shouldn’t a kid who is passionate and talented - and born in Zimbabwe - have the chance to play with the best footballers in the world?’ It would be an injustice.
Wenger on the morals of football
Arsenal has a tradition that I like to respect, but Arsenal also has moral qualities for which I feel responsible and which I defend in my team. Everyone has their values that they pass down to the generations that follow. That’s why, when there was the Ashley Cole affair, I wanted someone at Chelsea to explain what their values were. I understand completely that they wanted to nick a player because he is one of the best. But what are their values?
Wenger on the dangers of foreign investment
The real danger these days is the people who buy big clubs and re-finance their acquisition by borrowing money from banks and putting the debt on the club’s books.
Wenger on Henry’s departure to Barcelona.
Thierry was coming up to 30 years old [born 18 Aug, 1977]; he knew we were moving forward with a young team. He wasn’t exactly sure of my plans about staying. He had come to a stage, where, as a forward he didn’t have much time left. I understand that completely. He said to me: ‘Coach, it’s true we have a good team, it’s also true we have a young team. It will become very strong, for sure, but me, I don’t have the time to wait. Will it be strong next season, or the one after that? I don’t know - but me, now, I’ve faced up to this decision.
And I said to him: ‘But Thierry, I understand your problem completely. I think the team will be very strong, very soon but I understand why you ask the question.’ So, he told me: ‘I want to leave,’ and that’s why he left.
It is quite interesting to hear Wenger talk about the morals of football. I wonder if his premier league counterparts, both former and present, (I.e. Sir Alex Ferguson and Jose Mourinho) would have similar sentiments. I’d probably take a gamble and think that Jose would show more respect for these arguably idealistic notions. I‘d wager that Jose is insanely jealous of the business/football relationship evident between the Arsenal board and Wenger, a relationship that, if had existed at Chelsea, would no doubt see him still at the helm there. I’m glad the executive of the club have had the nonce to let Wenger manage the team, while they take care of the other details.
Arsenal is building a new squad, and the dividends are starting to show this season. They are unbeaten in the league so far and have tore defences apart with the free flowing and precise nature of their game. They seem to have exorcised the demons of last season, with goals flowing from the likes of Adebayor, and more importantly, the midfield maestro, Cesc Fabregas. Indeed, it was the lack of goals from midfield during last season that prevented Arsenal from mounting a serious title attack. Wenger seems to have fixed this problem, with Fabregas, Rosicky and Hleb proving a potent attacking midfield force which is providing plenty of ammunition for the likes of Adebayor and Van Persie.
On a vaguely related note, I purchased FIFA08 for my Nintendo WII on the weekend, and have been happily blasting away the likes of Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester United from the comfort of my living room. They have this great feature where you can play online, and play the ‘real’ fixtures as they occur in real life against someone who supports the opposition team (for instance, on Saturday, I could play the Arsenal v West Ham fixture and follow the league schedule through til May 2008). Just an example of a pretty neat idea!
