Robson’s lesson to Wenger
IT WAS the night Bobby Robson told Arsene Wenger and his Arsenal side that they needed some pertinent lessons on how to react to a defeat.
Robson’s Newcastle had come back from a goal down to win 3-1 just before Christmas 2001 to leapfrog the Gunners and go top of the Premier League in a game mired in controversy.
Arsenal had Ray Parlour sent off, the Toon were awarded a late, decisive penalty, despatched by Alan Shearer to make it
2-1, with Laurent Robert adding a third goal before the final whistle.
Cue outrage from Wenger and his players, who, led by an incensed Thierry Henry, surrounded referee Graham Poll.
Henry had to be restrained by Shearer.
Ironically, the pair last week were the first players to be inducted into the Premier League hall of fame, with Henry calling Shearer “the most lethal striker I’ve seen in the box. Hands down”.
After the bust-up, Robson challenged Arsenal to raise their standards.
“They should learn how to lose around here,” he maintained, as he looked around the Highbury marble halls with the bust of Herbert Chapman.
“You’re bigger as a club if you know how to lose. After the final whistle, Henry descended on Graham Poll and wouldn’t leave him alone.
“He was complaining about everything. I didn’t like the way he conducted himself and Arsene was pretty moody afterwards.
“I didn’t feel they took the defeat gracefully.
“My old chairman at Ipswich Town, John Cobbold, once told me that you have to love the game more than the prize – because without the game there is no prize.”