Daily Mirror, Peter Hill-Wood Interview: "Arsene still retains his love and enthuasm for football.."

Rob of the Rovers

Sunday Mirror wrote:

Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson have been the most successful managers in the history of the Premier League. On the face of it, the two have little in common. Arsenal boss Wenger is a cool, composed, erudite Frenchman who's words are measure and whose demeanour is professsional. Ferguson, who has guided Manchester United to 11 Premier League titles, is an explosive Scot from a working-class background in Govan. Wenger's reactions to a post-match crisis has been to tell his players he'll discuss it in full when he's had a chance to analyse the game. Fergie has been known to resort to the hairdryer treatment.

And yet they do have much in common. Fergie has spent 23 years at Old Trafford. Wenger celebrates his 13th anniversary in September. They both possess a passion for football and a dedictation to their clubs. Similarities that encourage Peter Hill-Wood to believe Wenger will extend his contract well beyond the two years it has remaining.

Arsenal chairman, Hill-Wood, said of Sir Alex: "He is older than Arsene by some 7 years, yet he retains his love and enthusiasm for football. So I have no reason to think Arsene will not stay at Arsenal for a long time to come. He is still a young man. What I am hoping for is we will still be talking about him as Arsenal manager for years to come."

It is four years since Arsenal last won a trophy, when Manchester United were beaten in a penalty shoot-out of the 2005 FA Cup final. Last season there were mumurings of discontent ammong some sections of the Arsenal faithful and in some quarters there was a dreaded utterance that the manager had 'taken the club as far as he can'.

Hill-Wood's reaction? "The fans are entitled to their opinion. They pay a lot of money to come to football so they can voice there views. But what has changed is the financial dynamic of football. Finishing in a Champions League place is a prize in itself because of the money generated by European Football and Arsenal have qualified for the Champions League for every full season Arsene has been in charge."

"Yes we would like to win something, or course we would. And this season I am quietly confident we are going to challenge for the Premier League. But we have won it three times under Arsene, I don't think a club like Liverpool has won it yet. We have players back from injury like Tomas Rosicky and Eduardo and I know Arsene has been very impressed by Thomas Vermaelen. He has shown in the past that he is a master at talent spotting and developing it. I am sure he will continue to do that."

Arsenal will continue to back Wenger's judgement, on a budget that is considerably less than the billions that Manchester City and Mark Hughes have at their disposal. "We haven't got £500billion behind us," said Hill-Wood, "that is the world we live in. But we have complete faith in what Arsene is trying to do and what he is trying to achieve."

Of course, Hill-Wood acknowleges that the day will come when Wenger needs to be replaced. "I hope that is a long way off yet," he said, "and what will happen I don't know yet. We will have to take into account that football has moved on and the manager of a big club has got to be more than just a good coach."

But it also has not gone unnoticed that Wenger has appointed a talented and highly-qualified back-room staff. Men like Steve Bould, who led the youngsters to Youth Cup glory last season, and Neil Banfield who has nurtured the likes of teenage proliogy Jack Wiltshire and England-Under-21 full back Kieran Gibbs through the reserve ranks.

With Wenger decides that day-to-day demands of the training ground are too exacting, he will have a ready-made coaching team ready to take over. That was the secret behind Liverpool's success in the Shankly-Paisley-Fagan-Daglish era and it would be premature to rule out a similar situation. Hill-Wood would not be drawn to identify any future Arsenal manager, "It is too far ahead to think about that. What I do know is we have some very good people on the staff."

Arsenal:

Last Season In The Premier League:

Top Scorer: Van Persie (11)
Most Assists: Van Persie (9)
Most Fouls: Denilson (66)
Most Fouled: Denilson (78)
Most Bookings: Clichy/Fabregas/Song (7)
Most Red Cards: Van Persie/Adebayor/Eboue (1)
Most Appearances: Denilson (37)

First 3 Games:

August 15 Everton A
August 22 Portsmouth H
August 29 Man Utd A

(If you have enjoyed these interviews, there are four more on the way tommorow as 4-4-2 builds up to the new season...)

_________________
DONCASTER ROVERS PREDICTION LEAGUE CHAMPION 2008