Arsene Wenger has spoken about how close Pep Guardiola came to playing for Arsenal. As his time at Barcelona came to an end, he met with Wenger to discuss a move to North London,
“He wanted to play with me as a coach and he wanted to play for Arsenal,” the manager said today.
“I met him at home – he was 30 or 31-years-old back then. I can’t really remember but he then went to Italy. I had players back then like Vieira and Petit who were still young.
“He showed great personality when we talked.”
In Guillaume Balague’s biography, ‘Another way of winning’, he says the Spanish international ‘ … had come close to signing for Arsenal but, the day before the deadline, Patrick Vieira’s proposed move to Real Madrid broke down and the deal taking him to North London collapsed’.
It’s clear there’s mutual respect between the two coaches, despite some little niggles in the past, and you’d have to put some money on Guardiola being a potential candidate when Wenger’s time at the club eventually comes to a close.
“His teams always play positively and always attack,” said the boss. “He has a very positive mentality and a very positive approach in terms of football. I think that’s why he fits well to Bayern. He’s become a very big manager.”
I wonder what Grimandi would make of Guardiola turning up on his doorstep 🙂
Gilles was playing for us back then, i think. Not as a scout yet?
and a certain remi garde…
nice title 🙂
Let’s stop sucking each other off here….smash Bayern! Become legends!
Can I vote this up AND down?
Lol…
Whatever mate
Let’s win in Wednesday and I will contribute to all that love talk
Ahhhh ..the IF ONLY’s associated with Arsenal…
The Guardiola and Man City rumours just don’t seem to go away. I so hope there’s no truth in them. He would be a perfect replacement for Arsene in my view.
So much in football is about timing though, Arsene’s contract runs out in 2017 (if he decides not to carry on) whereas Guardiola’s runs out next summer. For Guardiola to come to Arsenal he’d have to sign a one year extension, there have been a few rumours of that happening. Here’s hoping!
Although he’s clearly a good manager with the bones of a team built by others (to which he adds very well), I’m not sure he’d be quite so effective in the PL. His pressing game works well in the unbalanced leagues but the PL has such depth that I’m not sure his teams could keep up the ‘pressing’ game for a full season without getting the whole squad exhausted and/or injured. Barca and Bayern play many domestic teams which probably wouldn’t survive in the English championship, and certainly not in the Premier league (yes they have a few exceptionally good… Read more »
But Wenger did in the PL what Guardiola has been doing with Barcelona and Bayern. In terms of style and approach to game, I mean.
But would you rather AW sign a extension or pep to join in 2 years….??
All depends on the results between now and then. If we have 2 successful seasons, I’d be delighted for Arsene to carry on.
Fucking definitely keep Wenger on if we win things in the next couple years! – No reason to change just for change sake. Man’s an Arsenal man through and through and an absolute legend of the club in every sense of the word.
Think if AW Keeps on the right track only he has the right to make that decision
if guardiola comes to arsenal there might be a bit of a overhaul in the squad. direct players like walcott, chamberlain will find problems, sanchez will be required to change his style to fit in. whether his (pep) ‘total football’ will succeed in the premier league only time will tell. i feel yupp heynces is a perfect fit if he can be lured out of retirement
Jupp Heynckes is four years older than Arsène.
Not really one for the future now is he.
@ooohSantiCazorla, Now that is a darn good question, any, and I mean any other manager in the world and I would fight tooth and nail to keep Arsene. For Pep Guardiola and the continued longevity of great management I think I would be urging Arsene to move upstairs.
Careful what you wish for mate….pep is one of those modern day high intensity managers. Successful, but wouldn’t stay still in 1 club for long, unlike arsene. Pep will come to a club like arsenal, manage for about 5 years tops, and then move on to other challenges. This has been his M.O.
Changing managers hasn’t harmed Barcelona has it? Or Bayern or Real Madrid?
Between them, Barcelona and Real Madrid get 95% of the TV money in Spain. In Germany, the government subsidizes the top flight. All three teams play in leagues that are nowhere near as top-to-bottom competitive as the Premier League. Not at all a fair comparison to make.
St Peter: Well Arsene, Thierry Henry and Mikael Silvestre seemed to have cancelled each other right out. Anything you’d like to add to recommend you to Our Lord?
Wenger: God? Played for us at number 10. Lovely boy, give him my regards.
We should thank St Bruce of Rioch for signing God
haha there should be a “best comments of the week page and award”. This deserves to win it!
Would Guardiola be allowed the spending at Arsenal that he’s enjoyed at other clubs? Probably not and therefore I don’t think Arsenal is the club for him.
It would present Guardiola a challenge, though. Perhaps that might hold a certain attraction for him.
Plus, I wonder if he will run away when things get tough, I mean really tough.
I fink we should get Tim Sherwood to take over from Arsene
What about ol mate ‘Arry. Might get feo and chambo to run araaand a bit
I didn´t mean to use my real name
Those bayern boo boys are always out there with ‘pep out’ banners
Guess he will fit in perfectly then XD
I don’t think pep will want to stay at any club for more than 5 years. Wenger carry on the good work please
I like how we’re the only club that has stood by its manager in the league at the moment, and would like that to continue once arsene graduates.
I’d also add that a left field choice, as arsene himself was, would really be a statement about us doing it our own way giving someone new a chance, and not bowing to the popular opinion on twitter or in the papers.
Hard to say if he’d be a good replacement. He’s managed two teams, both of which have more depth than my eyes can see. Would be hard to say if he’d do well at arsenal. Anyway #COYG
arseblog would love this:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3302870/Petition-aims-stop-Phil-Collins-returning-music.html
One word – Arteta wont wait for Pep to mess up. He will understudy Wenger for 10 more years then smoothly take over. Like Liverpool in the 70s. The way a great club should be run.