Exclusive: Arsene Wenger’s half-time team-talk against Aston Villa
It was all falling apart at the Emirates on Sunday. The elegant stitching was removed in the summer, now this. Booing has become a half-time feature at the Emirates and Arsene Wenger has never had so many doubters. Two down at half-time against Aston Villa in the last competition that Arsenal might just have a chance of winning this season, the club looked in real bad shape. Then they turned it around. Three second half goals and Aston Villa had nothing to say.
Arsenal are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup, but how? What did Arsene Wenger say at half-time? We have word that this wasn’t a victory for another famously silent fifteen minutes, nor was the time used for teacup throwing or boot-kicking. No, Wenger invoked the words of Robbie Williams, the voice of our generation. It’s believed that his slightly altered and extremely personal rendition of the 90s classic ‘Strong’ brought some players (Walcott) to tears.
Play the song, read the lyrics below. How did Robbie know all this back in the 90s? I suppose all of the greats are timeless.
Wenger: My breath smells of a thousand fags [because I famously smoke]
And when I’m drunk I dance like me Dad
I’ve started to dress a bit like him
Wenger: Early morning when I wake up
I look like Kiss but without the make up
And that’s a good line to take it to
The bridge
Wenger [with feeling]: And you know and you know
Cos my life’s a mess
And I’m trying to grow so before
I’m old I’ll confess
You think that I’m strong you’re wrong
You’re wrong
I’ll si-ing my so-ong my song my song
Wenger: My bed’s full of takeaways and fantasies
Of easy games
The pause button’s broke on my video [Euro 96, what a tournament]
And is this real cos I feel fake
Ryan Giggs, Robbie Blake
Teach me things I don’t need to know
Wenger [with powerful hand-gestures]: And you know and you know
Cos my life’s a mess
And it’s starting to show so before
I’m old I’ll confess
You think that I’m strong you’re wrong
You’re wrong
I’ll sing my song my song my song
Wenger: If I did it all again I’d be a nun
The rain was never cold when I was young
I’m still young – we’re still young
Life’s too short to be afraid
Step inside the sun
Wenger: And you know and you know
Cos my life’s a mess
And I’m trying to grow
Wenger: And you know and you know
Cos my life’s a mess
And I’m trying to grow [a young team]
Wenger: And you know and you know
Cos my life’s a mess
And I’m trying to grow
Wenger: You think that I’m strong you’re wrong
You’re wrong
I’ll sing my song my song my song
Wenger: You think that I’m strong you’re wrong
You’re wrong
I’ll sing my song my song my song
Wenger: Life’s too short to be afraid
So take a pill to numb the pain
You don’t have to take the blame
Wenger: Life’s too short to be afraid
So take a pill to numb the pain
You don’t have to take the blame
Wenger: Life’s too short to be afraid
So take a pill to numb the pain
You don’t have to take the blame
Photo courtesy of: http://welloffside.com/
