Ian Ridley- Arsene Wenger serves up his chips when the stakes are at their highest
28 Nov 2009 - 22:27:43
After his unprecedented four-letter rant earlier in the week - an outburst more suited to certain TV chefs - Arsene Wenger was back to his cooler, charismatic self ahead of the crucial match against Chelsea, a game that could determine whether Arsenal's championship challenge will rise like a good souffle - or end up in the bin.
The question of Jose Mourinho returning to the Premier League cropped up at the Arsenal manager's training-ground press conference. 'Leave him where he is,' joked Wenger.
And what of John Terry's claim that Chelsea are feeling invincible again, as they did under Mourinho? 'There is only one team since I have been in England that was invincible,' said the Frenchman.
The main man: Arsene Wenger
Wenger did not, though, have the monopoly on quips. 'Invincible?' someone wondered. 'More like invisible these past few years.'
Watching Arsenal is sometimes reminiscent of watching Jack Nicklaus. With the game at his disposal, it wasn't so much a surprise when he won, as when he didn't.
More from Ian Ridley... West Ham 5 Burnley 3: Five-star Hammers coast against Clarets28/11/09 Barker: Three years after brother Gary's death, I'm ready to win world title21/11/09 Birmingham 1 Fulham 0: Lee Bowyer clouts Cottagers with magic moment21/11/09 Tottenham 2 Sunderland 0: Keane and Huddlestone complete Bent's misery07/11/09 Liverpool will turn it around, says defiant Rafa Benitez 31/10/09 Fulham 3 Liverpool 1: Rafa Benitez reaches breaking point as nine-men crumble31/10/09 Wolves 1 Aston Villa 1: Ebanks-Blake smashes in leveller to deny Villa24/10/09 Portsmouth 1 Spurs 2: Defoe allows Fratton bark to get better of him17/10/09 VIEW FULL ARCHIVE What the Gunners need to go with all their technique, however, is more of the Nicklaus mentality.
Wenger insists the defeat at Sunderland last week was more a physical issue than a mental one, with 14 of his players coming back from their midweek internationals. But the evidence piles up.
When the going gets tough, his Arsenal side hate going away. They were hammered at Manchester City in similar circumstances in September.
There is something vulgar about criticising such an object of beauty as Wenger has created. Arsenal's pace and movement eclipse all others. Winning is a by-product.
Wenger is a winner, and much as he may bask in the compliments about his side's play, he clearly continues to be frustrated by any art for art's sake - and the absence of a League title since his Invincibles of six years ago.
He shows it most at this time of year, too. There was that spat with Alan Pardew, then at West Ham, three years ago.
Last season Wenger was striking a Basil Fawlty pose after defeats by Aston Villa and Manchester City. It is as if the promise of early season keeps evaporating and doubts assail him, leading to an anger that his side are not doing full justice to their talents when it comes to results.
This year there has been a new toughness from him with his team. No more Mr Nice Guy, perhaps.
He has admitted Arsenal can no longer be excused as a young team. And, he said after the Sunderland game, 'we choked a little bit'.
Angry: Wenger's confrontation with Alan Pardew at West Ham in 2006
Losing his cool after being asked about Theo Walcott's fitness for the World Cup was another example of his ire, though you suspect he was not unhappy at his players seeing his dissatisfaction.
Years ago Chelsea were the entertainers of the King's Road. Now they are a machine under Carlo Ancelotti, and without the machinations under Mourinho.
Under George Graham, Arsenal ground out results. Now they risk furthering a reputation of being show-ponies who gambol only when given the freedom of the field. Wenger has his blind spots - notably in failing to recruit the top goalkeeper all title-winning teams possess. And in being frugal with the transfer kitty - something he should put right in January.
Also, his players need to show they have the stomach for the contest. Injury-ravaged they might be, with Robin van Persie out for some time, but they will probably relish today's game more than last weekend's.
And a win in adversity, to prevent an 11-point deficit behind Chelsea, might not be surprising, given Arsenal's perverseness. They won at Stamford Bridge this weekend a year ago.
They do, though, need to then go and surprise us by winning both at Liverpool and Burnley in the coming weeks if Wenger's Arsenal are not to experience another invisible league season, bereft of silverware.
With Sir Dave Richards and Richard Caborn gone, it seems the so-called Sheffield mafia have had their day when it comes to England's World Cup 2018 bid.
With David Dein, once of Arsenal, emerging as a major player to assist Spurs-supporting chairman Lord Triesman, it looks as if a north London mafia is replacing them. After the Shaffia, the Naffia.
You can only wish the bid team well as they head for some serious lobbying in South Africa at the World Cup finals draw this week, with David Beckham offering the campaign's acceptable face after the recent in-house squabbling.
As bid chief executive Andy Anson says, now is the time to present a united front.
And if his words are heeded, then he will have earned his £500,000 per annum and the same again as a bonus if the bid is successful. Anson will also team up with Lord Mawhinney, whose tenure as Football League chairman ends next year midway through the bid, and acting chief operating officer Simon Johnson to decide on the English venues after the candidate cities were announced last week.
Some might say that he and they are not stadium and logistical experts but who dares to venture the bid is not getting value for money?
Explore more:People:Jack Nicklaus, Theo Walcott, David Dein, Jose Mourinho, David Beckham, Simon Johnson, Robin van Persie, John TerryPlaces:Liverpool, London, South Africa, United KingdomOrganisations:Football League
