Arsenal are renowned for being a team that play with flair and grace. Their passing style is famous the world over and at times is possibly only second to one: Barcelona. Ever since he arrived at Highbury, Arsene Wenger has promoted a passing philosophy and is never willing to compromise it, even when the Frenchman came in for some stick earlier in the season when Arsenal’s results were far from ideal.
Over the years Arsenal have had a number of players who were graceful when on the pitch. During Wenger’s extended tenure his starting eleven has, at different times, comprised of Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry, Marc Overmars and Emmanuel Petit. All graceful in their own right and a joy to watch, playing the beautiful game as many think it should be played: the ball passed on the floor, to feet.
Wenger has always looked to bring in players who are comfortable on the ball and this Arsenal quartet is no different. Polish goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny, French right-back Bacary Sagna, Cameroon defensive midfielder Alex Song and one of Arsenal and England’s brightest young stars, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, are all enjoyable to watch in their own way and are at the very top of their game.
One thing these Arsenal stars are not so adept at is ballet. They may be comfortable on the football pitch, but put them on the dance floor and they look like they’ve got two left feet. They turn from graceful footballers into awkward dancers. I can’t see any of them listening to classical music in the Arsenal dressing room either, even though it’s something that Arsene himself might be championing.
Here is the Arsenal quartet of Szczesny, Sagna, Song and Oxlade-Chamberlain trying their hand at ballet with a familiar Arsenal face behind the piano; none other than former Gunners’ defender Martin Keown…
I would never have had Keown down for being the musical type! However, on the pitch Arsenal are certainly a refined outfit, even if when it comes to ballet they should leave it to the professionals. Thankfully there isn’t a tutu in sight!
This post has been sponsored by Citroen.
That’s all we xxxxing need !