Tips from Bobby

Another year, and another legend making his way to London Colney for fitness and a competitive edge. The guest? None other than the elegant master himself: Robert Pirès.

I say guest, but Robert Pirès has more than a right to call Arsenal his home. More than several of the current contenders to be labelled his "successor", dare I add?

In fact, I can go as far as saying that none of the supposedly similar players at the Club have come close to earning the right for such an honour. And this is as much an acknowledgement of Pirès' years of stellar service as it is a criticism at the current crop, as well as regretful sympathy for how injuries have turned Tomas Rosicky; the man who inherited the Frenchman's number 7 shirt, into not even half the footballer his earlier promise had suggested.

Mainly used by Arsène Wenger on the left side of a four-man midfield during the glorious early 2000s, Pirès was your out-and-out goalscoring wing machine. Not only that, put him left, right, or central (where he had started off in France), what he delivered on a more than regular basis was 100% class. And, more importantly, he showed 150% commitment, albeit in his own effervescent, ultra-cool style.

Although things weren't quite plain sailing to start with following Pirès' £6 million move to north London, a chat with the manager and extra gym work turned him into a true revelation, wowing fans up and down the country and in Europe with his technique, skill, goal-scoring regularity and his physical strength. Heck, he even beat John Terry to the header that pinched the Stamford Bridge equaliser of our European tie all those years ago (the less said about the Highbury return the better...)

Anyway, enough eulogising, as we all know the stories and we all yearn for the return of those days.

But instead of just pining for the past, why not use Pirès' talent and experience and look forward?

Surely Arsène Wenger has harboured such thoughts in the past with the arrivals of David Beckham, Freddie Ljungberg, Sol Campbell and now Pirès?

Wenger will be well aware, as we all are, that the "Invincibles" were, and will be, his best ever side. And Pirès, a major part of that all-conquering machine, arguably second to the King himself (I'll come on to Thierry Henry later) can surely provide the likes of Samir Nasri, Andrey Arshavin, and the aforementioned Rosicky, with the necessary guidance and expertise to go from strength to strength.

Not that any of them are bad footballers, by any stretch of the imagination. But let's face it, they haven't exactly set the world alight, have they? Flashes of brilliance are all we've seen, and that is not enough and will not suffice if we are to get back into the title race after the recent self-inflicted mire.

Take Arshavin, for example. Deployed in a similar role to that Pirès', albeit in a front three, the Russian has not quite mastered the art of coming inside to augment the central striker, or the consistency of unleashing a thirty-yard bullet when need-be. We all know he has the ability, as he seems to play brilliantly almost when he wants to. Instead, we often have a frustrated figure out on the left, accompanied with some woeful finishing. Coupled with the usually astonishingly apparent lack of enthusiasm, the 29 year-old really could do with a bit of personal tutoring from Pirès, more on the mental side of the game if anything.

Nasri is another who could come on bundles by mingling with Pirès as well as watching the Robert Pirès of old in action. While it is clear for all to see that Nasri's got the commitment, as well as some nimble footwork and good technical ability to boot, what Nasri is lacking is a sense of sound decision-making. The ability to release the ball or get into the box and finish a move at the right time has often eluded him, and this only needs fine-tuning, as he is already showing signs of improvement this season. As a man who averaged fifteen goals a season and a similar number of assists, Pirès had a footballing brain second-to-none, allowing for a telepathic relationship with his teammates; an ideal role model for Nasri in that respect.

I mentioned Rosicky's long-term injury and its massively hampering effect on his career. And, although sympathetic, one definitely feels there should be much more to the Czech's game, injury or no injury. Again, look no further than Pirès. Playing arguably some of his best football on the way to our third double in 2002, his cruciate ligament injury looked to have drawn the curtain on his career. After all, he would be 30 by the time he would return, and surely will have a lost the edge to his game. But no! Pirès would return even stronger, playing a starring role over the next few years, culminating with that unbeaten season in 2004 and the run to the Champions League final in 2006.

Rosicky has a supreme model for determination and mental strength in front of his very eyes, and really should put the injuries behind him and save himself, as he is rapidly falling in many supporters' view.

Obviously, Pirès' return has been fronted as a major boost on all official Club lines, somewhat attempting to lift the recent doom and gloom that had beset us prior to the latest international break, which has only gone on and served to increase our misfortune (and resentment at international football) with the news that Bacary Sagna is out for some time.

Interviews, flashbacks, highlights of the man's wizadry, there is a sense that Robert Pirès was never given a proper goodbye, a goodbye that the likes of legends such as Tony Adams and Dennis Bergkamp had enjoyed. And the same goes for Thierry Henry. Watching him in action for the New York Bulls the other day (yes, this is what you get when you are abroad- a myriad of random football matches from all over the globe), Thierry looked as fit and as able as ever, and must surely be welcomed back to the Arsenal training ground when the MLS season draws to a close in the next couple of months.

Who knows? It may be the sheer of presence of such icons alongside the current pretenders which provides that kick up the backside they need on how and what it takes to win. I can only hope so.

User Comments

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea