The Wenger factor

Parlour: worried for Gunners

He is on the training field every day. He got involved - if you needed one-on-one with him he would give you that too.

Ray Parlour
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Ray Parlour believes that Arsene Wenger will leave a huge gap when he finally leaves Arsenal.

Speaking on Goals on Sunday, the former Arsenal mid-fielder says that Wenger was a brilliant coach who got the most out of his players.

"Wenger was a fantastic manager to work under, his training and everything," said Parlour on Goals On Sunday.

"He is on the training field every day. He got involved - if you needed one-on-one with him he would give you that too.

"I am worried when he goes. Who will replace him? He has brought so much to the club, people forget the things he has done."

Parlour also remembers his years with Arsenal, but says that he played in a totally different era.

"It was a great social at the time. I was there with Tony Adams and Paul Merson, I was only a young lad. We did our work, but it was good fun.

"We had a Tuesday club. All the lads would turn up to training all suiyted and booted and George Graham would be like where the hell are you going this week? I think one week he had us followed to the pub.

"In those days everyone was doing it, but in these days you have got to be a lot more professional, you are in the public eye a lot more. It is a different era."

Parlour helped Arsenal win the league and cup double in 1997-98 and in 2001-02 and was part of a very talented mid-field.

"With Wenger I was pushed out to the right hand side," explained Parlour.

At the time we had a really good blend in the mid-field. Myself on the right, Viera, who was a fantastic player, Petit and Overmars.

"Overmars was a player who never tracked back so we let him stay forward. Automatically Petit would go to the left hand side, Viera would go across and I could play central mid-field.

"I was one of those players who knew my job and just got on with it."