By Myles Palmer
Gilles Grimandi says he will be leaving Arsenal at the end of the season, after five years and with two years still left on his contract.
He says he needs regular first team football, and doubts whether he would get many games next season.
Grimandi is open to offers, but fancies playing in Japan.
He is naturally very keen to go out on a high.
“All I can hope is that I finish my career here as I started it with Arsenal winning the double.
“Whether or not I’m playing during these closing weeks, I will continue to support the team at all times. Arsenal has given me so much and I will feel a bit like an Arsenal man for the rest of my life.”
Grimandi, 31, comes from the small skiing town of Gap in south-east France.
He decided to live in Hampstead, rather than Hertfordshire, because he realised he might never have the chance to live in a big city again.
He was signed by Wenger for Monaco in 1991 when playing non-league football and studying economics at Nice University.
When I met him at the training ground he was boyish and serious, like an postgrad student.
Wenger signed Gilles and Emmanuel Petit for Arsenal for a combined fee of £5million in 1997.
Grimandi spent much of his first season as a centreback, where his mistakes always seemed to cost a goal,or so it seems in memory.
He fared much better as a holding midfield player alongside Patrick Vieira.
Grimandi has made 168 appearances and scored six goals.
This season he has made 23 league appearances and eight in the Champions League.
He said, “When I look back over my five years here there are so many happy memories for me.If I had to take one away with me, it would be the way the fans grew to respect me here.
“I had a tough start and I don’t feel at first I had the respect of the fans.
“After all, I’m the first to admit that I don’t have the skill of people like Bergkamp and Pires. But I am determined and I always give 100 per cent. I feel that the fans now respect me.”
I think most fans will give Gilles a good reception if he does play, even as a sub, in further games.
OK, we have cursed The Grimster at times because he is not as talented as other players in the team, but he had some storming games during 2000 and 2001.
He is brave, a trier, and fans appreciate that.
My latest info is that Van Bommel and centreback Kevin Hofland ARE lined up to join Arsenal in the summer.
Grimandi’s departure seems linked to their impending arrival.
10th April 2002.