Ethical Arsene Couldn’t Bend Rules For Anelka
Add comment January 15th, 2008
It’s long been known that Arsene Wenger is a man of principal. In the case of Nicolas Anelka, it was this desire to preserve the club’s ethics that prevented a returnfor the ‘prodigal son’:
“Most of the time he was not in a club with the quality that he had. He got disappointed. He has so much class. I considered him because he wanted to put things right. I thought ‘Is it right to get a player back who has left?’ We have kept a straight policy – if he has left, we accept it.”
You have to say that for the most part that policy that has been successful, allowing Wenger’s teams to constantly evolve, as well as permitting the likes of Cesc Fabregas to break through and replace former heroes.
Wenger’s gamble is that the likes of Adebayor, Eduardo, and Bendtner will provide a more significant long-term contribution to Arsenal Football Club than a returning Anelka. I can’t say I disagree.
Arsene’s comments came as part of the launch for ArsenalTV, which is available as part of the Setanta Sports package. I didn’t manage to catch the first night of programming, but I hear it was fairy entertaining. The best thing about the channel will be the ability to watch all the reserve and youth games, allowing the nerdiest of fans (eg. myself) to do a tad of talent-spotting.
Look at Arsene and Des here. I can imagine them as kind of old married couple, eating toast together in bed, with Arsene chuckling as he wipes the crumbs from Des’ ever-expanding moustache.
Anyone else? No? Thought not.
