Arsene
Wenger has paid tribute to the host of African footbalers who have helped him
to become the most celebrated manager in Arsenal’s history. The
long-serving Frenchman is celebrating 20 years in charge of the north London
club at which he has brought through a number of exciting talents, including
the likes of Nwankwo Kanu and Kolo Toure.
The emergence
of Nigeria international Alex Iwobi has represented one of the more uplifting
aspects of Arsenal’s recent surge back up the Premier League table and Wenger
believes the talented forward shares many of the qualities his predecessors
exhibited.
"African players had a massive impact on my
career because I always managed them right from the moment I started in the top
league in France,” Wenger told Arsenal.com.
"I had
African players at Monaco and I like the fact that they were creative and they
are usually attacking players with imagination. They have pace and power as
well, and they usually combine strength and agility well. That’s very difficult
to find.
"Africans
are hugely passionate people and there is a big passion in Africa for the game.
They are happy on the football pitch and that’s something which has been
fantastic for us.
"Kanu had a
massive impact here, Kolo Toure too, I had George Weah too… so all these
players had a massive impact."
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