THE BOGEY MANAGER
Wenger’s seven-year hitch against Pulis, who has warning for anti-Arsene brigade
TONY PULIS claims football nut Arsene Wenger will have to be carried out of the game “in a box.”
And the West Brom boss has warned discontented Arsenal fans that the Frenchman could stay at the Emirates another five years.
Wenger heads for The Hawthorns today under mounting pressure to quit the Gunners when his contract expires this summer.
He hasn’t won away against a Pulis team in seven years – and that 2010 success remains his ONLY victory in seven
FROM FRONT PAGE attempts. But Pulis, who regularly tormented Wenger while boss at Stoke, believes his rival is in no mood to walk away from management – and that won’t change whatever happens today.
“I get the feeling that Arsene most probably wants to be carried out in a box still managing a football club because that’s the way he is,” said Pulis. “He’s football nuts. I really do think people at Arsenal have given him total trust.
“I think he’s been fantastic.
“He will go down in history as the greatest manager Arsenal have had and you’re probably talking about a man who wants to manage for another five or six years by the sound of it.
“He’s still managing one of the great teams in Europe and they could yet finish in the top four and win the FA Cup.”
Pulis became public enemy No.1 in the eyes of Arsenal fans in 2010 when a reckless tackle from his Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross left Aaron Ramsey with a badly-broken leg. The gaffers also clashed when Wenger accused the then-Stoke manager of ‘rugby’ tactics.
But Pulis (above) said: “It’s just two competitive people having a bit of a scrap here and there.
“Arsenal are very talented. It is just about making sure you stay with them and stay in the game.
“You have to grind it out at times because they’ll have a lot of possession.”
Jake Livermore will line up for West Brom today before linking up with England following his shock recall.
And Pulis said: “It is brilliant for Jake and now I hope he really pushes on, gets a real identity about his game, and gets to know his strengths and weaknesses.
“He’s got all the tools to be a really good player.”