By Myles Palmer
Arsenal had tried to hit Thierry Henry too early, lost the ball far too much,and Rebrov scored.
Then Arsenal dominated the second half and Vieira got a late goal to make it 1-1.
Conditions were difficult and the players did well to play as much football as they did after a fine drizzle turned into a heavy monsoon.
Arsene Wenger came up first and did four minutes.Then George Graham came in and did five and half minutes.
Arsene is realistic enough to know that 1-1 was a good night for him.
Obviously, he wanted to win and he knew that Thierry Henry had enough chances to kill Spurs off. But he also knew that Arsenal should have played better in the first half.
His side have been more of a first half team than a second half team.Especially in recent weeks.
I asked the first question : Arsene, do you see that as a night of missed chances?
It is, yes. But I felt that in the first half it was a scrappy game and we didn’t put the ball enough on the ground. And both teams were cautious.Unfortunately, we got caught on the first chance they created. And when we came out for the second half 1-0 down we really showed some quality. The spirit was remarkable. The quality of our game was remarkable. And, overall, we never gave in until the last second.
Of course we are in the end happy with a draw because we came back from 1-0 down.But as well we feel that we dropped two points because we needed chances to make the difference early on. But there was a turning point. They had a good chance on the near post at 1-0 and if they’d scored that it could have killed the game off. So overall maybe a draw is not too bad.
Was it a difficult decision to bring Patrick on?
Yes, I decided not to play him.And only if only really needed. But I had no real choice. And I think finally it was a good decision because he came on and scored the goal, and had no problem after the game. But he was nine days completely without training. And we were still scared that
he could have a setback with his hamstring.
On the Spurs goal,what’s your view on the players who could be seemed to be offside?
I thought it was offside, personally.
Are you unhappy about that?
You’re never happy when you concede an offside goal in such an important game. Its difficult to understand why the linesman never lifted the flag because I felt, from early on, that Ferdinand was offside and interfering with the shot.
Alex couldn’t see Anderton’s shot properly?
Exactly.
Are you now focused already on the Liverpool game?
Yes. I felt that tonight the team got the needed confidence to go into a difficult game like Liverpool.Because we came out and were convinced that we were able to fight to come back in a difficult game when were 1-0 down.
Psychologically, it was very important to get something out of the game tonight. We lost the two away games before tonight, so if we had lost tonight it would have been a big blow to us.That goal was really important,I believe.
I asked : You gave Bergkamp half an hour. Were you disappointed you didn’t manage to get the ball to him more often?
I played him central behind the two strikers. When he came on he touched some great balls, and made some good runs, and I felt that he helped us to be more confident that we could score. But it was a fight,so to get on the ball was not easy tonight.
Arsene was asked about Tony Adams, whose mother had died on Thursday.
I gave him the choice. Because it’s very difficult to interfere with these kinds of problems.To be with his partners can help him get through it,to concentrate on something else, can help you to go through it.
GEORGE GRAHAM came in after doing his TV and radio interviews.It was nice to see my old pal again, so I asked the first couple of questions.
A draw a fair result, George?
Yeah, I suppose you could say that. To hold arguably the second best team to a draw. And I think we deserved a draw at least.
Quite a clean game, compared to last year?
I thought the players handled it very well.I think it was competitive, played in a good sporting manner.It was nice to see, after some free-kicks and some fouls, players picking one another up and shaking their hands.I thought it was good.Very good stuff.
Neil Sullivan was excellent, wasn’t he?
Second half, yes.He made some important saves.I thought the first half was a bit scrappy. But I was quite pleased. I think their bench frightened me more than the team.The quality they’ve got on the bench is fantastic.So I was really, really pleased with the first half, the score rather than the performance,to go 1-0 up,I was delighted.
But we knew Arsenal would then go forward a lot more. Which they did.And they pinned us back.Unfortunately, we just couldn’t get out as well in the second half because Arsenal were pushing forward.Then bringing Bergkamp on to play behind the front two.We had to withdraw Ledley King to pick up Bergkamp.But its sad to lose it in the last couple of minutes, particularly as its so obvious in television – how he can give that goal,I just can’t understand it. Unbelievable.
Was it a foul on the keeper?
No.On Les Ferdinand.Have you not seen it?You’ve gotta have a look at it. Unbelievable.
Did he push him?
No, he never pushed him.He just pulled his shirt nearly off his back.Then he got a free header.Ferdinand was almost on the ground. I’ve seen it a couple of times.How the goal stood, I can’t believe it.
Was he the man marking Vieira?
Yes.
Do you think the break Rebrov’s had has done him good?
I just think it’s taking him time to settle in.When you see what Arsenal’s got on the bench, they’ve got Wiltord can’t even get a game, £12 million. Bergkamp, Vieira – it’s quite frightening when you see the strength in depth that they have. So for us to give a performance with some youngsters playing. I think the boys should be proud of themselves tonight.They’re really upset in there, tolose a goal so late in the game.
We needed a second goal. When Clemence broke free we could have won the game comfortably. But to be fair to Arsenal,they created chances.
How is Les? Because it looked as if he was coming off injured?
Yeah, he changed his mind. (George laughed.) I was just delighted he stayed on. I thought he was a powerhouse. He really was. He’s been outstanding for us in the last few matches.
George was asked about a comical incident.He shouted to Clemence to come to the touchline, so he could talk to him, and Lee Dixon came over to cheekily overhear what George was saying to the Spurs player.
How did you come to be giving a team talk to Stephen Clemence and Lee Dixon?
That’s what I was trying to do.Give two team talks for the price of one! A bit of humour now and then doesn’t hurt, does it? I thought the players were very good tonight.It was a competitive match, but the players joined in that good team spirit. It’s was nice to see. Being very
competitive without going overboard about it.
Was Lee telling you that Les was groggy?
No, no, it was nothing to do with Les.It was just a bit of tactical talk I was telling Clemence.Lee wanted to know what I said. He should know anyway, he’s heard it long enough, often enough!
On that jovial note George made his exit.He is such a superlative actor that he gave the impression that he is still enjoying the job.
All great actors are men of entrances and exits.George absolutely amazed me one day when we were alone in his office at Highbury and he told me that he went to see Prince at Wembley Arena.
He said he would never buy a Prince album but he wanted to see how Prince handled himself.
I was gobsmacked by that. There were 100 professional football managers in England, and some good actors, but only George Graham would go to see Prince for that reason.
And George was right about Dixon. After the game,when Lee was asked what George was saying to Clemence,he said, “Same old bollocks!”
21 December 2000.