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Books of quotations don't usually fall under the Arsenal remit because generally football quotes are pretty predictable, forgettable or total gibberish. Then again when has Le Boss ever been either predictable or forgettable, or come remotely close to talking gibberish? Since 1996, when he arrived at Highbury, Le boss has entertained, enlightened and provided numerous pertinent evaluations of both Arsenal and football in general. More importantly and amusingly he's consistently managed to piss off Fergie to which a chapter of this entertaining volume is devoted.
This new book has been compiled by David Manson, a self-confessed armchair Gooner who hasn't attended a game since 1990. Not that this should be held against him because he's put together an entertaining little volume in which Wenger's quotes have been grouped together in categories, dated and set into context. I haven't counted them, but with an average of about four quotes per page there must be getting on for a thousand quotes to enjoy.
Here's a very brief taster:
23 Sep 1996 ‘I tried to watch the Spurs match on television in my hotel yesterday, but I fell asleep' already endearing himself to Gooners
24 Mar 1997 ‘It is a great gesture by Fowler and I would like to give him an award of fair play. But if he got that I would have to give the referee an award for stupidity' after Fowler's blatant dive for a penalty at Highbury, and then his appeal not to give it.
10 Apr 1998 ‘Keown's movie career is probably over' after Martin's battered mug required stitches to a facial injury versus Wolves.
14 Mar 2001 ‘Sol Campbell is a great player, but he has said he will stay at Tottenham, so what can I do?'
March 2002 ‘His [Ferguson's] only weakness is that he thinks he doesn't have one'
2004-5 ‘If you take the example of Manchester United, they would be in mid-table now if officials had the benefit of video replays.'
There are loads more like these and they are well worth a read, but the only book of quotations I can recall becoming a worldwide best seller was Chairman Mao Tse-Tung's little red book. It was compulsory reading in China, which obviously helped sales, but also became a rather trendy item in the West as well. God knows why because it was full of tedious drivel by a boring old fart with a huge ego, a bit like Fergie really. I don't expect Arsène's quotes to come even close to matching the sales of Mao's book, but that's absolutely no reason for you not to buy it.
Indeed I'd love to hear many more quotes by Arsène as Arsenal's manger. As David Manson writes in the Acknowledgements ‘… I can only hope that the years documented within these pages are, indeed only the beginning.' Amen to that David.
Finally, as a totally unrelated aside, if you do happen to be an aficionado of football quotes I can also recommend a website about another great footballing personality: www.shankly.com
Quotations from the Public Comments of Arsène WengerCompiled by David Manson
Price £5.99
ISBN 0 7535 1056 1
Published by Virgin Books
Available from most half-decent bookstores, although probably not in too many bookshops around Tottenham, Fulham or Manchester.