Arsene Wenger comment: Team-mates don't need to be friends

By Richard Clarke

Friendship is not the most important commodity among team-mates, according to Arsène Wenger.

It was reported recently that Arsenal centre backs William Gallas and Kolo Toure had fallen out. Certainly the statistics suggest the manager has been reluctant to pair them together in the past few months.

However, Wenger claims the duo have a perfectly friendly relationship and argues that the either/or decision he has been making between the two was down to their collective lack of height. He went on to add that some of the world’s greatest footballing partnerships did not see eye-to-eye.

“They get on OK,” said Wenger. “In football you don’t have to go on holiday together but you can still play together.

“[Real Madrid legends] Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas never spoke to each other. They didn’t greet each other but when you saw them play together you would never guess that.

“Kolo and William talk to each other but it is always very difficult to assess how much people are friends or not. What is essential is that, on the pitch, football is most important and they should respect the game. If you want to win, you do what it takes.”

The issue has arisen because Gallas has recovered from the hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined since the win over Plymouth in the FA Cup Third Round. The Frenchman is likely to join Toure and Johan Djourou in the squad for the Fourth-Round tie at Cardiff on Sunday. It means three players are competing for two positions.

“I'll consider [playing Gallas and Toure] but I have not decided yet,” said Wenger when asked about the equation. “I might rest one of the two as well, I don’t know.

“I believe they can play together but we have a little handicap in the air when they do.”

My verdict:

Being the fan of the Gunners for so long, I couldn't believe that I'm hearing this from Arsene Wenger. After all, he has been the coach for so long. In every way, I respected the man who brought and gave life to Arsenal in their football culture, and yet he was saying something like this today. Being in a football club is something special because it's like a family. Just like when you supported one team, you're part of that family and embrace the culture in it. So if you're the team-mates and can't even see eye to eye to one another, that will prove to be a great challenge for the entire squad. Just look at the current position we're in at the moment and we will certainly be sure that the problem exists....I hope Wenger will see that sooner...if not now.