Wenger: I learnt humility from sumo
Arsene Wenger has suggested that English football could learn from the respect shown in victory by Japanese sumo wrestlers following the explosive tunnel bust-up at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The Frenchman managed in Japan for Grampus Eight before his Arsenal appointment in 1996 and was struck during that time by how even the highest-profile sumo contests never ended with the winner showing so much as a clenched fist.
It is something Wenger has tried to remember in victory and, with Sunday’s melee sparked by Jose Mourinho’s annoyance at Manchester City’s post-match celebrations, he immediately referenced his Japanese experience. “It is difficult to take when you lose a big game, to see the 100 per cent celebration on the other side,” said Wenger. “It’s always a little bit like an offence. When I was in Japan, I had sumo. In sumo, you never can tell who wins. He doesn’t show his happiness because of respect for his opponent.”
A touchline shoving match with Alan Pardew in 2006 was prompted by Wenger’s annoyance at the then West Ham United manager’s fistpumping celebrations in his direction. Wenger still believes Arsenal were shown “a lack of respect” in that incident but his team were also part of the “battle of the buffet” incident at Old Trafford, when he clashed with Sir Alex Ferguson and Cesc Fabregas threw pizza at the Manchester United manager.
“The media build these games up like it’s life or death,” said Wenger. “Something happens and then you are surprised. It’s part of the intensity and importance of the games and sometimes it can go overboard.”
The Pardew clash was the last time Arsenal lost at West Ham ahead of tonight’s match in which Wenger, who has lost Aaron Ramsey to a hamstring injury, is considering a switch from a 3-4-2-1 system back to a conventional four-man defence.
Wenger is tempted by the chance to bring in a more defensive midfielder in place of Ramsey, but then add another creative player. It could even mean starting Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud all together for the first time.