By Myles Palmer
I saw David Dein at the training ground just before Thursday’s momentous press conference
“Did Virgin send you a copy of my book?”
“Yes.”
“What did you think of it?”
Dein looked a tiny bit disconcerted, as if he didn’t want to be put on the spot at that moment.
“You saw an opportunity and you took it – good luck to you. It’s well-written. A lot of it’s factual, and that’s fine. But I really wanted an official book with the club’s stamp of authority on it.”
“Well,” I said,”Publishers these days often think an unauthorized book is more interesting. But with Arsene staying till 2005, you can do a book on his nine years.”
Dein was pretty hip about the book and I admire him for that.
Then Dein, Danny Fiszman, Arsene Wenger and chairman Peter Hill-Wood sat together at a long table backed by small posters that said LET ARSENAL SUPPORT ISLINGTON.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen,” said Hill-Wood.
“And welcome. We’ve had quite a lot of good news at Arsenal recently,what with good results against Juventus and Manchester United and a couple of other wins.
“However, today is more very good news. Arsene has agreed to sign a new contract with us which will keep him at the club till at least 2005.
“It’s marvellous news for us. He’s done an absolutely fantastic job since his arrival in 1996 and our future could not be in better hands. We know that he has been tempted by some offers from elsewhere round the world
and of course we’re thrilled that, having considered them, he has decided that his future is with us.”
Arsene said that he hoped we would suffer him for a few more years.
“I’ve decided to stay because I believe I have a group of players that I respect and admire and have a lot of potential to bring this club to where I want them to be. That means at the top level in Europe and in the world.
“The directors and the club and the board have shared that kind of ambition with me.And that’s why I decided to stay, giving me thefreedom to work and to achieve our target.
“The club has a huge potential supporters-wise, and the fans have always been loyal to me since I’m here.I believe there’s 70-80,000 people ready to watch Arsenal every week if we have the needed team. And that’s why I believe so much in the potential of this club.”
Then the daily papers chatted to Dein, who told us why Arsene is a great man.
At the same time in the next room the Sunday papers had a rare audience with Fiszman and Hill-Wood.
Then Arsene talked to the dailies. After that he talked to the Sundays.
My friend Philippe is the London correspondent of France-Football and he had introduced me to his editor Gerard Ernault and Arnaud Ramsay, another French reporter. We went downstairs and Philippe asked the receptionist to call a taxi to take us to St Albans station.
Philippe explains that Gerard came over yesterday to present the French Player of the Year trophy to Patrick Vieira, a prestigious award voted by players who had won it in previous thirty years.
Henry was second, Zidane third and Pires fourth.
As we are standing in the foyer Vieira comes down the stairs. He is wearing a long navy blue mac, tight black trousers and snazzy silverblue trainers. He us carrying a large bag in one hand and a red mobile phone in the other.
He asks Philippe if he needs a lift.
So Philippe says,”There’s four of us.”
And Patrick says, “Oh, that’s alright, come with me.”
So we ask the receptionist to cancel the cab and walk out to the car park.
Years of bumming lifts with rock stars has taught me to sit in the front, where there is much more legroom. So I stand by the passenger door of the big black Chrysler Jeep while the boys pile in the back.
Then Patrick appears by my elbow and says,”It’s a left-hand drive.”
I could not see the steering wheel through the tinted windows.
As we roll out of Hertfordshire and down past Totteridge and through Mill Hill and into Hendon I don’t talk to him much and all the chat is in French.
Patrick always seems such an easy-going, agreeable, modest character.
The editor, Gerard, asks where the players live.Patrick says that Gilles is in Hampstead, Robert is near Baker Street, and “Thierry habite a cinq minutes de chez moi.”
His radio is tuned to Choice FM so I ask him if he ever listens to Jazz FM. He said he likes to listen to the station at night on long drives, but Choice during the day.
“Do you go to any concerts?”
“Sometimes, yes. The last one I went to was R. Kelly. It was good.”
“He produced Aaliyah’s first album, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he was married to her,” says Patrick.
I mention Tuesday night’s success, saying that it must be a proud feeling to be captain of Arsenal when you beat Juventus 3-1.
“I didn’t think we’d do that. It’s a good feeling – but we lost to Charlton.”
“Arsene said that was complacency.”
“Did he?” says Patrick, a little surprised.
We cruise down Finchley Road and snake up Frognal and he drops us at the bottom of Holly Hill, opposite Hampstead tube station and we say thanks and cheerio.
Phillipe is delighted by today’s news.He is a big Gooner who has lived over here for 15 years and he loves Arsene.He is also a broadcaster,guitarist, songwriter and singer. A man of many talents and a guy with a very romantic and humane view of life and sport.
He says he had never had a lift from Patrick before, and had once declined a lift in Thierry’s Porsche.
He fancies a pint, so we stroll down the High Street towards a pub he knows.
Then George Graham comes out of a shop two yards in front of us.
He shakes my hand.
“Hi, how are you doing?”
I introduce George to the French guys and tell him that Patrick has just dropped us off up the road.
“Will Vieira be here next season?” says George.
“I didn’t ask him that.”
“Why not? It’s your job!”
George is wearing a black leather jacket and shows us the grin we all know and sometimes love.He says that he’s impressed by how well Arsenal are playing now, and very pleased
It is good to see him looking so well and it brings back many happy memories. We had great times for eight years and he gave us plenty to talk about and write about.
Philippe is laughing out loud as we walk down the road.It had been an upbeat afternoon and this chance encounter has made it even better.We have a drink and the lads tell me some of the things Patrick said to them in French.
Like,”Anelka could be the best of them all. He’s awesome.”
Occasionally, in journalism, you have a bit of fun, a few laughs, a good day. This was one of those days.
Then I go home to my wife and daughter.
Jan says,”Why didn’t you invite George for a drink?”
My publicist Becke has left a phone message : TalkSport want you on the phone at 1.20 p.m. today.
Missed that. Maybe we can do something tomorrow.
6th December 2001.
P.S. Did I mention that Arsenal is a magnificent club run by very nice people?