‘The abuse Wenger has been getting is disgusting’
FORMER Spurs captain Robbie Keane is perplexed by the treatment of Arsene Wenger by Arsenal supporters. ‘The abuse he is getting is disgusting,’ he insists.
Ahead of today’s North London derby at White Hart Lane, where a win for Spurs would severely dent Arsenal’s flimsy Champions League prospects, Keane will squirm if Wenger comes under fire from his own fans.
‘I know I am speaking as an ex-Tottenham player, but forget about that, from a different perspective, as a football person, the job he (Wenger) has done there has been absolutely exceptional,’ said Keane.
‘I think the abuse he is getting is disgusting to be honest with you. I can’t get my head around it,’ he added.
Keane feels the Spurs success under Mauricio Pochettino is perhaps contributing to the absence of respect which Arsenal fans are showing to Wenger.
‘Maybe that is why there is so much talk about Wenger now because of how well Spurs are doing,’ he said.
Keane’s esteem for Wenger is admirable as he was on the receiving end of many a Gunners’ bombardment during his two spells for Spurs, embracing 306 games and 122 goals.
The Dubliner scored a late penalty spot equaliser at White Hart Lane in April 2004, the day Arsenal’s unbeaten ‘Invincibles’ clinched the title – back then, it was a case of saving face for Spurs, little more.
‘They were very dominant then,’ he recalled.
‘The team they had was probably one of the best teams Arsenal had for a long time. Of course, it was tough. We had some great games against them but they always seemed to come out on top.’
In seven seasons at Spurs, Keane enjoyed one lone success, the 2008 League Cup trophy, and never finished higher than fifth.
In contrast, during that time, Arsenal won the Premier League, the FA Cup twice and always qualified for the Champions League.
That record is on the line today as Arsenal must win and pray that both Manchester clubs slip up. It doesn’t help their cause that Spurs are a much stronger side than they were in Keane’s time and are playing for higher stakes than local bragging rights as they seek to keep tabs on Chelsea.
Spurs last finished ahead of Arsenal in 1994-95 and Keane is aware of what it would mean for the club’s fans to bury that hoodoo. ‘It’s a massive deal,’ he said.
‘They’re on the right road to do that. The future is certainly bright for them in terms of the stadium. The training ground is the best I have seen. And they have everyone in place now. All they need now is a trophy.’