Amy Lawrence’s new book chronicling Arsenal’s unbeaten season, “Invincible,” has recently hit the shelves, and thegaurdian.com has leaked some tantalizing tidbits. In two articles, Arsene Wenger’s thoughts on the Invincible XI are concisely trimmed to one or two sentences per player, and a more in-depth interview with Wenger regarding the season on whole is given.
Not to be outdone, The18 feels that it should take things one step further, and draw on both articles to provide an interpretation of what Arsene was really saying when describing the Invicibles XI. Here is the first edition in the most-definately-soon-to-be-classic series: Brutally Honest Arsene.
(Disclaimer: The18 has never actually met Arsene, or his shrink, or anyone that could possible give personal insights into the way the Arsenal manager’s mind works. We have only read these articles, and have watched countless interviews with the Frenchman. That’s enough, isn’t it?)
Jens Lehmann
Photo: @BeritaArsenal | Twitter
What Arsene said: To have such huge desire was his quality. He was a player who was ready to die to win.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: Nothing motivates a back four more than being afraid of what the goalie might do to them if they concede.
Lauren
Photo: @benlongwords | Twitter
What Arsene said: Fantastic personality, underestimated player for me. Top quality and a real fighter as well.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: Thank you, Lord! Thank you for allowing me to convince him to play right-back! He thought he could play in my midfield. My stacked, classy as hell midfield! The fool.
Kolo Touré
Photo: @madzolly | Twitter
What Arsene said: Massive passion for the game, technically much better than everybody thought he was, and a happy boy as well. He brought such enthusiasm to the team.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: Sol kept him in line and I got him while the getting was good. Have you seen the way he plays for Liverpool now?
Sol Campbell
Photo: @Football__Tweet | Twitter
What Arsene said: A deep thinker. When you get to war you can stand next to him. All these players were very intelligent, but as well Sol was a strong personality.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: Oh, you mean real spine of our defense? Yeah, Sol was that guy, don’t get him started on Kolo…
Ashley Cole
Photo: @MessiMinutes | Twitter
What Arsene said: A regret of my career. He left on a misunderstanding between his agent and the club. A fantastic fighter as well. The rest of his career has shown how big a player he is. It should have been here.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: The scars of your love remind me of us/They keep me thinking that we almost had it all/ The scars of your love, they leave me breathless/I can’t help feeling/We could have had it all
Adele, she truly understands. Seriously, have you seen our left-backs since Cole left. Ugh, you know what I miss? The days when my left-back could do this:
Freddie Ljungberg
Photo: @SuperSportTV | Twitter
What Arsene said: Another strong personality, very focused to win. He was an unbelievable fighter. Even in the Champions League final against Barcelona he was immense. He could find resources even when he was dead because of his fighting.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: You have to be a good fighter when you are Swedish and look that good. Women can be very tenacious, and sometime running away only does so much. Trust me, you haven’t seen struggle until you’ve seen Freddie Ljurnberg cornered in a shopping mall by a pack of female Arsenal fans.
Patrick Vieira
Photo: @ESPNFC | Twitter
What Arsene said: One of the legends of the club. I think I owe him personally a lot because he was the first player I brought here and he gave me a lot of credibility. He had all you needed. The charisma, the class, the fighting spirit. He is just Patrick.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: "Wanted: Another Patrick Vieira." If you are in possession of one or know of someone who is, please respond by 11 pm GMT on January 31st, 2015. Need very current and very great. Diaby always injured. Flamini and Arteta not cutting it.
Gilberto Silva
Photo: @Goonerz1886 | Twitter
What Arsene said: He is, for me, class. Modesty, humility, on a human front a top-class person. He was ready to sacrifice himself for the team. You need that screen player in front of the defense who is ready to do the dark and dirty work for other people.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: "Wanted (cont.): If no Patrick Vieira available, would settle for new Gilberto Silva."
Robert Pires
Photo: @jrwatches | Twitter
What Arsene said: Robert is as well one of the legends of the club. A top-class football player, and the smiley killer. He killed you with a smile – but he killed you. Give him a football, you have him on your side the whole day.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: Do. Not. Bring. Female. Significant. Other. Around. Robby P. Seriously, lil’ B would thank Pires for buying his main chick pornography. You don’t get scored on by Robert Pires, you are blessed that he took the time out of his day to put the ball in the back of your net.
Dennis Bergkamp
Photo: @AlainNdom | Twitter
What Arsene said: Dennis is the science, the intelligence, the charisma. A strong character, very determined, super professional. I have seen Dennis from the first to the last day of his career focusing on every single pass. Dennis was the intelligent perfectionist.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: You could put Dennis in a locked cell with only a ball and a window to look out of, and if he saw a runner, he would find a way to get the ball to him in stride. He is much like Mesut Ozil, in that respect, except Dennis would never miss a go-ahead penalty against Bayern in the Champions League. Too soon? Too soon.
Thierry Henry
Photo: @Goonerz | 1886
What Arsene said: This guy could do absolutely everything. What symbolises Thierry are those special goals – the goal he scored against Liverpool, or the goal he scored against Real Madrid. He was Usain Bolt with a top football talent.
What Brutally Honest Arsene meant: This guy actually did do everything. We wouldn’t have won squat without him, and after he left, we didn’t. It wasn’t until seven years after his departure that we finally won the FA cup. We just never had the quality and talent to replace his impact. I’m looking at you, Robin van Persie.
