Tony Adams: Arsene Wenger changed time of training to suit Ian Wright because he hated confrontation
Former Gunners captain sheds light on life under Wenger at Arsenal and how he had to 'have a word with Wrighty' over timekeeping
TONY ADAMS has revealed Arsene Wenger used to try and avoid confrontation at all costs – even moving the time of training to fit in with Ian Wright.
The 50-year-old Gunners legend has revealed what life was really like during his time at Arsenal in his new new autobiography Sober — exclusively serialised this week in The Sun.
The Granada boss has opened up on some of the earlier days of Wenger’s reign, and in particular how “standards weren’t being met” on many occasions.
On Wenger, he wrote: “He never has liked confrontation.
“I recall a time when Ian Wright was coming from Croydon and getting in late for training most days.
“Arsene simply made training later but the boys were fuming.
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“We as players then told Wrighty to get his act together. It was the big players who policed the group rather than Arsène.
“Then there was a time when Manu Petit walked on to the training ground after a session had begun.
I asked Arsene if he was going to do anything about it but he just shrugged his shoulders. I went mad. Standards needed to be set and followed.
Adams then sheds light on how things were to change around the club as the Frenchman really got his feet under the table.
He added: “I guess I was a big enough figure at the time to be able to make my point.
“But in Arsène’s later years as manager, I couldn’t envisage any other player having the authority to challenge him like that, which would worry me.”
- SOBER: Football. My Story. My Life, published by Simon & Schuster, is out on June 1.