Merson -'I tried to take Wenger's Diet and Fitness' methods from Arsenal to Walsall

Paul Merson's article in the Daily Star, Saturday 3 October is about Arsene Wenger and the start of his reign at Arsenal.

Starting the article he states the players were only giving him 6 months, 12 years later he is 'Mr Arsenal'.

In the article Merson states how Wenger changed the mentality around the club, following on from George Graham's 'mundane' training....

"The same with 8 v 8. As soon as the time was up it would end. If it was 1-1, there was no winning goal. He'd make it so different.

"In 8 v 8 he'd vary it all the time, like having two touches if you play forward and just one if you pass backwards. You'd never just play a game, you'd have to use your brain.

"Then there was the finishing with centre- forwards. He'd stand on the edge of the six-yard box and roll it in for you to smash into the net past the keeper.

"You'd think, 'What was that for?' But believe it or not, they are the hardest ones on a Saturday.

"At your pre-match meal, he'd walk round saying "chew to win" to make sure you ate your food properly. You had to constantly chew your food, you couldn't gulp it down.

"He'd changed the diet, of course. You could only have a certain-sized steak and everything was carefully monitored.

"There was a bit of resistance at first to the stretching. We'd come in and do this stretching no-one had ever seen before.

"When we went away with England, the Arsenal lads would be doing them when we were warming-up or warming-down. Eventually all the England squad did them.

Then he goes on to say ... "At Walsall I tried to take some of his diet and fitness things there"

Interesting given all the problems you heard off players about the training at the club during Merson's time at the club. Captain Chris Westwood used to do training on his own 'after hours' as he was not happy with what was being covered!! Goalkeeper Joe Murphy who arrived from West Bromich Albion on loan's physical condition ballooned during his short spells at the club!




The full article is available to view at:

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/football/view/101823/We-only-gave-Wenger-six-months/