Bradley Walsh told Soccer AM he wished Arsene Wenger was a bit more like Harry Redknapp.
Gunners need more grit, says Walsh
Bradley Walsh told
Soccer AM that he wished Arsene Wenger was a bit more like Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp.
The Arsenal fan has been frustrated by some of Wenger's signings and believes the team is lacking some much needed grit and determination.
And Walsh - who spent two-and-a-half-years on Brentford's books before launching a career in entertainment - admitted he was highly critical of Wenger last year because he didn't think the Frenchman was as capable of motivating players as Redknapp.
"Last season, even though I'm an Arsenal fan, I wanted Spurs to go all the way in the Champions League because what Harry does is he motivates people, he takes people on," Walsh told
Soccer AM.
"He gets the best out of them and Wenger wasn't doing that in my eyes.
"And at the time he should have had some more players coming through with a bit of grit and determination. He could have bought Scotty Parker but no 'nah I don't rate him'.
"Well that's fine, but Scotty Parker then goes to Spurs, frees up (Luka) Modric and Modric runs every game. You've got to think about what you're doing and I think Wenger has missed his boat.
"And then he brings Thierry Henry back who's three months older than me at 54! And now Thierry Henry is injured... well I never! So I just don't get it.
"We've got (Theo) Walcott and all those lads and it's all good, but (Per) Mertesacker? I was a better centre-back than Mertesacker and I was a right full-back!"
Despite being unhappy with the Gunners boss, Walsh says he does not want to see him leave the club, yet.
"He should stay," he said. "But only because the ground will be paid for in another year or so and then hopefully they can free up some money and he can go in search of some real players, but we've got to buy good."
Injury
The 51-year-old has forged a successful career as both an actor and presenter after an ankle injury forced him to hang up his boots at 21.
But the former Coronation Street actor says he would trade it all if he could have prolonged his football career.
"I've done some fantastic things in my life and had some fantastic jobs, but football was my life," he said.
"When I got injured it was a real shame. I'd fractured one ankle, recovered and I was supposed to be playing Plymouth Argyle on the Saturday and I fractured the other ankle. I spent the rest of the time on the treatment table, so I retired at 21.
"A lot of my mates are still playing or are involved, people like Wally Downes, Paul Walsh and Clive Allen and all them lads and I still know them all.
"But I wish I had taken my badges now and I would still be involved in football. I would love to try and coach a youth team now, because they don't play in the streets anymore."
