Gunner Since Time Began - born to moan
11-15-2012, 04:45 PM
How Arsenal lost out on Ibrahimovic... and the four words that will chill Wenger's heart: 'Zlatan doesn't do trials'
By Luke Benedict
PUBLISHED: 08:28 EST, 15 November 2012 | UPDATED: 09:41 EST, 15 November 2012
As if Arsene Wenger does not have enough on his plate with the North London derby around the corner - he didn't need Zlatan Ibrahimovic rubbing salt in the wound.
When the Paris St German superstar became the first man to score four goals against England - the final acrobatic effort hailed by captain Steven Gerrard as 'the greatest ever' - it would only remind the Arsenal manager of the one that got away.
Back in 2000, before Ibrahimovic’s first big move to Ajax, Wenger invited him over to Highbury with a view to signing him. The only proviso was that he would have to go through a token training session at the club as part of the preamble or Wenger was not prepared to sign him.
Nemesis: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has plagued Arsenal, hitting a penalty for AC Milan last season and a brace for Barcelona in 2010 in the Champions League
Nemesis: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has plagued Arsenal, hitting a penalty for AC Milan last season and a brace for Barcelona in 2010 in the Champions League
Nemesis: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has plagued Arsenal, hitting a hat-trick for AC Milan last season and a brace for Barcelona in 2010 in the Champions League
But the Arsenal boss was not accustomed to Ibrahimovic’s infamous arrogance — and his nuance for a one-liner — when he turned round to his potential employer: 'Zlatan doesn’t do trials'.
The player himself chuckled as he recently related this tale to French journalists, before adding: ‘He then gave me one of his funny Wenger looks.’
Having lost Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie, you can bet Wenger is not finding it so funny now.
By Luke Benedict
PUBLISHED: 08:28 EST, 15 November 2012 | UPDATED: 09:41 EST, 15 November 2012
As if Arsene Wenger does not have enough on his plate with the North London derby around the corner - he didn't need Zlatan Ibrahimovic rubbing salt in the wound.
When the Paris St German superstar became the first man to score four goals against England - the final acrobatic effort hailed by captain Steven Gerrard as 'the greatest ever' - it would only remind the Arsenal manager of the one that got away.
Back in 2000, before Ibrahimovic’s first big move to Ajax, Wenger invited him over to Highbury with a view to signing him. The only proviso was that he would have to go through a token training session at the club as part of the preamble or Wenger was not prepared to sign him.
Nemesis: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has plagued Arsenal, hitting a penalty for AC Milan last season and a brace for Barcelona in 2010 in the Champions League
Nemesis: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has plagued Arsenal, hitting a penalty for AC Milan last season and a brace for Barcelona in 2010 in the Champions League
Nemesis: Zlatan Ibrahimovic has plagued Arsenal, hitting a hat-trick for AC Milan last season and a brace for Barcelona in 2010 in the Champions League
But the Arsenal boss was not accustomed to Ibrahimovic’s infamous arrogance — and his nuance for a one-liner — when he turned round to his potential employer: 'Zlatan doesn’t do trials'.
The player himself chuckled as he recently related this tale to French journalists, before adding: ‘He then gave me one of his funny Wenger looks.’
Having lost Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie, you can bet Wenger is not finding it so funny now.