Dignity of sumo rules for Arsene
ARSENE WENGER believes you would have to travel all the way to Japan to find a sport where respect is guaranteed. The Arsenal manager was left chuckling by the headline-making fallout from the Manchester derby. Reports that his nemesis Jose Mourinho had been the target of a flying milk missile for complaining that City’s post-match celebrations had been disrespectfully raucous did not go unnoticed in north London. Wenger is no stranger to a big-game strop himself, often involving United or Mourinho. Sunday’s events brought back memories of the Battle of the Buffet in 2004 when United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was hit by a slice of pizza lobbed by Cesc Fabregas. Wenger takes his side to West Ham tonight having last suffered an away loss to them in 2006 when infuriated by Hammers boss Alan Pardew overcelebrating a late winner. Few have contributed more than Wenger to a modern era many decry as lacking in even the most basic levels of sportsmanship – his mid-game tie-flapping fight with Mourinho in 2014 also a notorious episode. But the Frenchman went back to his time when he managed Japan’s Nagoya Grampus Eight – and discovered the intricacies of a sport where absolute respect is the norm – sumo wrestling. “Every two months, for 15 days every day you have a fight, and the guy who wins the most fights is the winner of the tournament,” he said. “But to be yokozuna – the top of the top – you have go in front of a committee. If you did not behave well, even if you won the tournament, you cannot become the yokozuna.
“It is one of the few sports in the world that has not changed since the 1600s.”
Wenger’s main concern is getting his side back to winning ways after just one point from six, and he may rest the misfiring Alexis Sanchez.
Wenger has kept faith with the Chile forward despite his refusal to extend a contract that will expire at the end of the season, with Germany’s Mesut Ozil in a similar position.
Wenger says negotiations with either player have not reached the ‘take it or leave it’ stage but it is noticeable Sanchez has been less of a force on the pitch than last season. This time last year he had 13 goals, compared to just five this time, four in the league.
“He is still efficient, he had assists against Manchester United and Southampton,” said Wenger. “He struggles a bit at the moment to score as much as last year but then he played much more at centreforward. This year in games like Southampton he came a bit too deep. If you do that you can’t score.” Olivier Giroud could make a first Premier League start this term but will not be allowed to leave on loan next month to protect his place in France’s World Cup squad. “I want him to stay until the end of the season, then we’ll see,” said Wenger.