Wenger curses distraction of World Cup on players' focus
Tuesday November 24 2009
IT IS rare to hear Arsene Wenger swear. But the Arsenal manager chose a couple of choice expletives yesterday in an impassioned plea for his players to remain focused on the season in hand rather than the World Cup at the end of it.
"Listen, a guy who has a poor season has a poor World Cup. It is as mathematical as that," he said. "A guy who wins with his club then goes to the World Cup, has a good chance to win. Players are not afraid of you if you do f*** all the whole season."
Indeed. Wenger's frustration was born out of the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland on Saturday, which also provoked an unusual public rebuke of his players by the manager, and which tripped up Arsenal's Premier League title chances.
It also followed an international break and Wenger is adamant that his squad -- who face Standard Liege at the Emirates in the Champions League tonight requiring a point to reach the last 16 -- must not be distracted. However, two of their three league defeats have followed international fixtures.
Tonight's match could also bring only a second start of an injury-ravaged season for Theo Walcott -- and it was talk of his World Cup prospects that riled Wenger.
"For f*** sake, the World Cup is in June. Is he on holiday until June 9? You cannot be serious? He's paid by Arsenal every week to perform. And well paid.
"Why should I, today, worry for what will happen on June 9 at the World Cup? He doesn't even know if he will go to the World Cup.
"He's not played this year, it's not his fault but it's not my worry what happens at the World Cup.
"The reality in life is, 'Do your job, my friend'. That's the reality. And make sure that never anybody can say, 'you're not committed every day in your life for what you're paid for'. I don't have to tell him that, he knows that."
In fairness to Walcott, he certainly does, and if the midfielder can recapture his form and fitness for Arsenal then he will be in Fabio Capello's squad for South Africa.
With Robin van Persie -- who is "four to six weeks" from a return -- and Nicklas Bendtner injured, Wenger may start Carlos Vela tonight. Wenger compares the Mexican Vela to Robbie Fowler, someone he always admired, and coveted, and the 20-year-old is the latest to be proposed as his long-sought-after 'fox in the box'.
"Vela is a fantastic talent," Wenger said of a player who has one Premier League goal to his name. "I believe he is a Robbie Fowler-type. He needs very little time to make a decision in the box."
Meanwhile, Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas maintains he will not be distracted by his name being used in Barcelona's presidential election campaign -- and hinted he could even stay at Arsenal for life.
Out-going Barcelona president Joan Laporta has hinted a deal is already in place to bring Fabregas back next summer, seen as a move to undermine the election campaign of old rival Sandro Rosell, with Agusti Benedito also vying for power at the Nou Camp.
However, Fabregas has nothing else on his mind other than delivering for the Gunners. "It does not affect me at all," said Fabregas. "This (speculation) has been going for years. I don't mind really if it happens, it happens -- but it will not change the way I think.
"I do not think about it because I do not want to and I do not think I should. I am at a great club, with a great team and am happy."
Meanwhile, Stan Kroenk, who owns the NBA's Denver Nuggets basketball side and the Colorado Rapids MLS football team, has bought 10 more Arsenal shares and now owns 29.9pc of the club -- just 0.1pc below the threshold that forces him to make a takeover bid. (© Daily Telegraph, London)
Live, Setanta Spt 1/Sky Spt Xtra, 7.45
- Jason Burt
Irish Independent
