Nicolas Enigma mouths off again
by Myles Palmer
FEATURES
THE ARSENAL AGM - FULL WRITE UP
FIVE REASONS: ARSENAL COULD WIN IN BARCELONA
CARLTON AND ITV UPSET US AGAIN
JEKYLL AND HYDE PLAY THE NOU CAMP
How much can Anelka improve?
A lot!
He can improve his mouth for a start.
Anelka was interviewed by a French reporter at Sopwell House on Tuesday February 2nd 1999.
He criticised Overmars. The interview came out in L'Equipe on February 5th.
It was translated, predictably, into a News of the World back page sensation on February 7th.
This is most disgraceful act by an Arsenal player for 14 months.
Since
Ian Wright insulted fans by sticking his bum out of the dressing-room
window after they lost 3-1 to Blackburn on December 13th 1997.
Anelka MUST be dropped. It is outrageous for him to say Overmars plays for himself and will never give him a pass he can score from.
As I understand it, the two already hate each other, ever since
the last time
Anelka slagged Overmars off in L'Equipe.
Anelka does not want to be over here.
After Arsenal stuffed West Ham 4-0 the players walked off the field. Bergkamp applauded the fans. Overmars applauded the fans.Anelka did not bother.
It will be Kanu and Bergkamp up front next season, with Diawara
on the bench. Anelka will be sold back to Paris St Germain or
another foreign club.
Price
About £8 million.
For Sheffield United in the FA Cup next Saturday I think Wenger will rest Anelka anyway.
He might play Bergkamp with the left-footed Diawara, who is happy to drift left when Overmars drifts into the middle.
If Wenger plays Anelka against Sheffield United, and he gets injured,
he
would miss Man United on Wednesday night. And Wenger is already
without Bergkamp and Petit at Old Trafford.
Anelka has been moody from day one. He came on as a sub in April/May 1997, strolled about, could not be bothered to chase defenders. He had a major attitude problem from day one. His heading is almost as bad as Michael Owen's left foot. And his off-the-ball movement inside the box is minimal. He has improved, but not enough.
Today in 1999, Anelka still does what he did in 1997. He is a dribble-and-shoot striker and a sprint-and-shoot striker. He still runs offside far too much. He can't volley and he can't score with headers. If he made runs to the near post, he could score another 10 goals a season.
It's a pity because Anelka has two fabulous feet and murderous acceleration. But he seems to be a sociopath, someone whose psyche will never be right. And sport at the highest level is not just a test of talent. It is a test of character.
Sunday 7th February 1999.