Arsene Wenger says he was surprised to see such pre-game camaraderie between Arsenal and Manchester United players on Sunday.
Sky Sports cameras caught several players exchanging hugs in the tunnel before kick-off leading Phil Neville, dripping with xenophobia, to suggest that Nacho Monreal (seen embracing David de Gea) ‘thinks he’s going to a christening and not a football match’. The ex-United defender’s comments were later echoed on Arseblog News in a controversial new column by ex-Gunner-turned-Luxembourg-pundit Graham Dougall.
Admitting the scene was very different to the days when Patrick Vieira and Roy Keane traded barbs at Highbury, Wenger played down the significance of the friendliness, insisting that it does not reflect a lack of focus or competitiveness.
“I understand that the pundits are a bit surprised by that because 10 to 15 years ago it didn’t exist,” Wenger said in his pre-Southampton press conference.
“It is an international thing, you can watch Real Madrid versus Barcelona and it’s the same, because people play together for the same country.
“I was surprised I must say but I must confess as well that it doesn’t stop players from focusing and concentrating on the game. They are pictures you are not used to seeing but it’s part of the modern game.
“I must say as well that today there are cameras are everywhere, and maybe it happened 10 to 15 years ago but you didn’t have a camera in the corridor.
“It has changed I agree with you but it doesn’t look that because of that the focus and commitment of the players has gone down.”
What do you think of opposing players hugging in the tunnel? Worst thing in the world since that movie you really hated? Or, love it…they should make it mandatory! Remember, there’s no room for nuance in this debate. Make sure your point is either black or white. We’re on the internet.
Here’s how they do it in La Liga.
Who really gives a fuck? Do a couple of hugs have an effect on our performances? Considering we won, I doubt it.
Your opinion is invalid because you have not chosen a side! 😀
I don’t want anybody hugging Harry Kane before a Noth London derby or anybody hugging John Terry at the Emirates.
I’m pretty sure no one has ever hugged John Terry. Well, at least not on purpose.
Except for Wayne Bridge’s wife. ooooo.
Except some of his team mates’ wives!
Barcelona vs Real – I warn you it’s pretty gratuitous
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzd6TYCkNqo
Couldn’t help but add it to the article…
No worries – although it should probably have a NSFW tag as well. Would somebody please think of the children!
I feel for the referee and linesmen. They didn’t get much love.
Lol! Say no more mate…. @arseblog could you please send the video to Phil Neville??? It will make him literally burn with anger!
Much ado about nothing.
To be honest I do prefer the Viera Keane stuff. It got me excited but premier league football has gone the same way.
No more blood and thunder, it’s just side tip tap boring passing until the opposition (and I) fall asleep.
When England turns to the likes of Phil Neville, Chris Sutton and Paul Merson for thoughtful analysis on the game, is it any wonder that they haven’t produced any players or coaches of any real quality for 20 years?
Man like Perry!
They care more about drama than the actual football. Wanna see Rooney on glass slippers, playing his last game for England and they lose 5-0.
Doesn’t matter, cause Rooney has the glass slippers. Therefore the prince will find him and f**k him in the a**.
I am sorry. I mean together living happily ever after.
Phil Neville in ”talking absolute bollox” shock.
Hugs solve problems. Hug and then kick ass.
English lion Rooney didn’t get involved in this DISGUSTING behaviour and showed on the pitch how his focus and hate for all men without the crest tattooed on their bollocks really helped him perform on the pitch.
Maybe Whine Looney should have hugged Juan Cry-baby Mata after ignoring him and hurting his feelings when presented with golden chance by Holding/Kos/Cech.
Or maybe he hugged a grandmother pre-game for good luck.
Nothing wrong with a good hug. I wake up every morning in NZ before a Gunners game hugging myself in the foetal position. Get up for the cup.
Are you supposed to ignore an international teammate or a fellow countryman, or ex-club mate? In any case, the playacting and gamesmanship resumes once they cross the threshold.
I think anything and everything related to football is hyped out of control nowadays. Hello? Maltesers on the bench and they make a big deal out of it?
Just ridiculous.
Addendum: Swapping shirts at half-time with a judas? NO NO NO
But weren’t the Maltesers infused with Jose imbued hate DNA sucked from Ramires??? No…. that was just James and Andrew’s classic comedy from this week’s Arsecast Extra! *LOL*
Largely a non-issue, but rugby probably sets the best example for inter-team love before and after the game.
Don’t they usually drink each other’s piss in the players’ bar after the game? Bit OTT.
Drinking each other’s piss is a form of love too man ..k
I think 10 minutes of spooning your opposite number should be mandatory pre game.
Nibbling gently on their earlobe optional.
Hugs in the tunnel, win over Mounited.
I’ll take it.
Well done Nacho.
I think the huge sums of money available for player contracts which leads to so many players looking to move to another team in search of better paychecks and teams looking to transfer them out before they lose them for nothing has lessened players’ identity with one team throughout their career which in turns weakens their hatred toward the members of the opposing teams. After all, there is a good chance they might shortly be playing for their currently hated opponent’s team next year. It’s the loss of “I am a Gunner and always will be a Gunner in my… Read more »
I actually did think it a bit too friendly with the hugging. I don’t expect most of our players to love Arsenal the way I do, and therefore I don’t expect them to hate United and Mourinho as much as I do either, but I do expect the players to get that this is a special game. For the Londoneers who’s fans of Arsenal, maybe the North London Derby is the most important game, but for us foreigners, it’s definitly United. And even though it not a title decider anymore because we’ve both been kinda shit this season, I want… Read more »
No biggie over hugs for me. If there is a relationship we should not pretend there is none just because we are about to play football. We make them shakes hands before the game and when they dont we read all kinds of meanings into it. Yet we complain about international teammates and ex-club teammates and friends hugging and exchanging pleasantries before a game? They probably spent long minutes talking or chatting the night before. As far back as the first world war, soldiers are known to have exchanged gifts and shared food and drinks (and even played football!) during… Read more »
I’m told no one’s ever hugged John Terry…not even his mum…or his missus…nope…no one…
Wayne Bridge’s wife did.
Hi Oh!
I genuinely don’t care.
No different to me saying hello to a colleague in the morning, or a handshake between me and our company director after they get back from being away from the office for a few weeks.
Think there are bigger issues in football than whether players embrace before/after a game.
I don’t see anyone complaining when after a not so good tackle the players shake hands/hug in apology.
If two players are good friends, then why not. I am sure it is not so chummy with every player of every team, but an old mate…so what.
Would these stupid comments be from the same Phil Neville who criticised Rosicky for his fantastic no-look pass the other year and said that he would have “two footed him” if he’d been playing? Classy.
The man is yet another utter moron managing to make a living out of punditry as a result of the media’s utter contempt for their customers.
I’ll be honest, I don’t really like it but I’ll admit it’s probably for no other reason that pure nostalgia and I grew up watching Vieira in the tunnel going after Roy Keane haha. I can’t pretend to understand if but I guess that’s just par for the course in the modern game with so many players from different cultures and nationalities and just because I don’t “get it” doesn’t mean it’s bad per se
John Terry went one better by hugging the missus.
Oh boy. The Phil and Graham Dougall would absolutely lose it if they saw that clasico footage!
Didn’t make any difference hug or no hugs.
We still applied ourselves and beat United.
Again no big deal. ONly a big deal in the minds of small minded people like Carragher
Scrap the damn thing and scrap pregame handshakes too.
Lets hug the opposition every match!!! if it will help us win