Arsene Wenger was an amazing coach who changed my Arsenal career, says Ray Palour
Sunday 8 May 2016 12:05, UK
Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has hailed the influence of Arsene Wenger on his career at the north London club.
Parlour played more than 300 league games for the Gunners between 1992 and 2004.
However, it was the arrival of Wenger in 1996 that really changed the midfielder, who went on to win three Premier League titles and four FA Cups under the Frenchman.
It was on the training pitch, though, where the "patient" Wenger was at his very best, according to Parlour.
"On the training field, he was amazing," the ex-England international told Soccer AM.
"Training every day - no disrespect to George Graham, who was very good and knew exactly what he wanted, he was very defensive minded, set-plays were important - but from day one with Arsene, the training methods were unbelievable, they really were.
"And technically, you got much better. You were playing with good players anyway. But he was a manager who you could go up to and say: 'Boss, I need to practice this a little bit more.'
"He would say: 'Right, after the end of training I will stay with you and practice.' And he would be out there for an hour with you on your own, and some managers would not do that.
"So he was brilliant for my career and he was a very honest manager. He used to say to me: 'If you play well, you will play next week.'
Soccer AM
"And that is all you want to hear as a player and you knew that if you played well, you would play next week and as a player, that is perfect for you."
