Arsenal vs Chelsea: War of words at an end as Antonio Conte sings Arsene Wenger’s praises ahead of derby
Match is sure to still be spicy but at least the gaffers are getting along following Jose Mourinho's aggressive stance
ANTONIO CONTE uttered the words you never thought you would hear from a Chelsea boss: Arsene Wenger is doing a good job.
The final and heartbreaking confirmation that Arsenal against their West London rivals is officially dead as a tantalising grudge match. That’s it, finished, done.
Under Conte’s predecessor, Jose Mourinho, verbal acid was sprayed around like tap water when it came to facing his arch-enemy — and the world loved it.
It made for classic matches, memorable insults and a bi-annual face-off between two strutting peacocks while everyone else sat ringside and held their breath.
Wenger, celebrating 20 years in the job this week, would have been too good a target to miss for Mourinho. But Chelsea’s ice-cool new Italian boss has clearly not read the Blues’ staff handbook yet.
He has popped the hot-air balloon, meaning that a game against Arsenal these days is threatening to become nothing more than… a football match.
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Conte, whose men visit the Gunners in tonight’s teatime clash, said: “I think Arsene Wenger is doing a good job. It’s normal that, when every single year you fight for the title, you want to win. But to stay up there every year is not easy.
“For this reason, I think Wenger is doing a good job with the young players. When you see Arsenal, you see good football. This is a big game between two big rivals. Yes, it’s important to play a good game — above all, after our defeat against Liverpool.
“But we know that we’ll face a good team, a big rival. I’m sure Arsenal will fight until the end to win the title because they’re a very good team, with great technique, good physical potential and organisation.
“It’s fantastic if someone is able to stay for 20 years in the same club. It’s fantastic. There is satisfaction in both sides. I think the club must value the work a coach puts in, in general.”
No cheeky winks, no conspiratorial smiles, no irony — just genuine respect for the manager of Arsenal. The game has gone.
This is not the wild-eyed Conte who mounted the dugout roof when he led Italy to a stirring victory over Spain at Euro 2016.
Or the unhinged middle-aged man dashing 30 yards along the touchline in unbridled joy at a late winner against West Ham last month.
Conte is a cage fighter during play, chartered accountant in between.
A manager is lucky to last 20 months at Chelsea, let alone the 20 years of Wenger’s reign at Arsenal.
Conte, 47, even hopes to follow in the Frenchman’s footsteps in the ultimate tribute to Wenger.
He said: “I like this. When you can organise and do your work and there is great satisfaction on both sides, there is the possibility to have a good work.”
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