ARSENE: WE MUST SUPPORT RAINBOW LACES
ARSENE WENGER admits there are plenty of similarities between himself and today’s opposite number Eddie Howe.
For one, they’re both blond… or, at least, they were both born that way.
And, two, they both have a belief that a particular brand of passing football is the way the game should be played.
But Wenger has also revealed that they have something else in common.
Like the younger man, he, too, was on the radar of his county’s national team bosses while still in his 30s.
Howe’s name was mentioned in the corridors of power at Wembley during the summer, before Sam Allardyce got the nod to begin his ill-fated reign.
Wenger, 67, said: “I was already asked in France a few times to take the national team, even at that age of 37 or 38. I thought I always had time to do it.
“I thought so much that I would have time to do it … and I’ve still not done it.
“Is there still time? Well, it is getting ARSENE WENGER will throw his support behind the Stonewall campaign this afternoon as Rainbow Laces week continues. Arsenal and Bournemouth fans will see a video of Gunners manager Wenger discussing discrimination of all kinds in sport to tie in with the short now.” Wenger chose to stay at Nancy and Monaco instead of taking over the France team and he then went off to manage Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan before arriving in London 20 years ago.
He understands why Howe, 38, was in no rush to leave club football.
Wenger ( below) added: “He’s a bit young, maybe, to leave a job in a club to go straight away to the national team.
“Most of the time, after the national team, it’s not easy for the guys to live in a serene way — especially in England.
“If you love to be part of the coaching then, of course, club football is a better place to be than international football.
“International coaching, for me, is not coaching, it is interesting only really in the big competitions.
“Here in Europe, laces takeover, which is organised by Britain’s leading lesbian, gay, bi and trans-equality charity.
In the video, Wenger says: “I don’t think discrimination has any place at all in sport.”
Wenger added: “Sport can be a great example of how society can be.
“That is because I can play with a Russian, you can play with an African and, if you have the same way to see the game, you have 53 countries and 24 qualify. You play two years of qualifiers and nobody knows why.
“After you go to the European Championships, which is, of course, interesting.
“And now they will create a 48-team World Cup, so we’ll start the World Cup in January and finish in June.
“It is a very pressured job to be England national coach.
“And I suppose every week you go to the game and see whether this guy is up to the level — ‘Do I play him or not? Do TREATMENT ROOM Arsenal: Bournemouth: ODDS TO WIN Arsenal: Draw: Bournemouth: you can share emotions without talking together.
“Sharing emotions is getting closer together and feeling you have something in common with other people and that’s a good way to get people closer to each other, to show the world can live in peace together.
“And all the great sport events are basically about that.
“The way we behave as a team, the vibes that we give out to people – that we are united together – convinces people I pick him or not?’. But you are a bit frustrated on a daily basis.”
Wenger has been impressed by the younger manager and understands the comparisons. “There are similarities – we are both blond,” he said, laughing. “He’s doing very well.
“I like the fact that he tries to play with a positive philosophy and the England job has been mentioned because he is one of the few English managers who is doing well in the Premier League.”
When Wenger arrived at Arsenal, there were 19 British managers in the top flight, but now there are just seven, only four of whom are English.
Wenger added: “Nobody thanks me from the other nations.
“When I arrived, everybody said a foreign manager could never win the English championship, so I believe the world has changed.
“But when I arrived, you had 20 English owners and that is not the case any more.
“So the foreign owners have come in – as well the foreign managers.” there is a future together.” Arsenal star Hector Bellerin added: “I love football. Everyone should have the chance to love the game like me.”
Manchester United, who are hosting West Ham in the Premier League at Old Trafford this afternoon, are among the newest recruits to TeamPride – the coalition that is committed to encouraging supporters, players, sports clubs and organisations to show their support of lesbian, gay, bi and trans people. Clubs in all the top four divisions of the English league system have joined the campaign, with Liverpool turning their LED lighting displays rainbow for yesterday’s visit of Sunderland.
LGBT fan groups from Chelsea and Tottenham came together ahead of the sides’ clash at Stamford Bridge last night, while Hull City mascots handed out laces to supporters at the KCOM stadium.