Shouting and cup-throwing isn’t his style

IT COULD be the most important match in Arsene Wenger’s 21-year Arsenal reign.

Defeat in today’s final against Chelsea and the pressure on the French manager to go may become too much, even though the Arsenal board want him to sign a new contract.

But whatever occurs at Wembley, Arsenal legend David Seaman, below, believes Wenger will not change his ways. He will be calm, cool and thoughtful, as always. There will be no shouting in the dressing room, no cups thrown or kicking chairs.

Former England keeper Seaman won two league titles and three FA Cups in seven years under Wenger, and he said: “Before kick-off, Arsene won’t say a lot.

“His work is done. It is done in training and then in preparation. In the lead up to the game he’ll maybe go through set-pieces, who is picking who up at corners, things like that. One of the strangest things that used to happen at half-time was you’d come in and have to sit down and be quiet. Get your drink, energy bars, or whatever.”

When Wenger first arrived at Arsenal in 1996 he revolutionised everything at the club – training, diets, preparation. Now, though, Seaman fears that other teams have caught up.

As for today’s match, he said: “I wouldn’t say it would be one of his greatest triumphs if Arsenal can win. But it would be so satisfying.

“For me, and I’m sure for a lot of other players. Just to shut people up and give Arsene the respect that he deserves.

“Having said that, it is still only an FA Cup. It’s not anywhere near the Premier League.

“Even last year when we finished second, Arsenal were nowhere near winning it.”