Source: TheGuardian
Danny Cowley revels in Lincoln’s brush with big time and praises Arsène Wenger | Amy Lawrence
Cowley will now focus on Lincoln’s National League and FA Trophy campaigns, while his Arsenal counterpart admitted there is no escape from criticismAs Lincoln’s players absorbed the experience by accepting the invitation to mingle with their counterparts in the home dressing room at the end of it all, it was important to make sure that City took care of some essential business. A member of Arsenal’s staff duly emerged from a cupboard with a broom, remarking: “They’ve asked for a hoover.” The broom was the best they could magic up at that moment. At Premier League level they are not used to requests from the opposition to clean the visitors’ dressing room. Whatever the circumstances, though, Danny Cowley insists on it. “The All Blacks call it ‘sweep the decks’, don’t they? If it is good enough for the All Blacks, it’s good enough for us,” he says.The gesture felt poignant, especially as there had been a brief commotion when Arsenal left their dressing room at non-league Sutton United in the previous round strewn with discarded strappings and drinks bottles. That contrast emphasised the different worlds usually inhabited by those from non-league and Premier League although, looking at the bigger picture, that is a chasm that Cowley hopes some of his contemporaries and colleagues can one day bridge. “There’s some great footballers at non-league level and hopefully some OK managers too,” Cowley notes. “We’ve seen what happened with Jamie Vardy. It shows you there is real depth in English football.” Related: Arsène Wenger still obsessed with Bayern despite high five against Lincoln Related: Arsenal’s Theo Walcott opens floodgates to wash away Lincoln fairytale Continue reading......read full article
