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Wengers Health

Premiership Arsenal
by Psycho-Gooner (U3962009) 12 August 2007
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a report from the NOTW, they claim Wengers health is under threat

FEARS are growing over Arsene Wenger's health as constant stress takes its toll.

Close friends and family are becoming increasingly concerned at the workload dumped on the Arsenal manager's shoulders since former vice-chairman David Dein was forced out by the Gunners' board.

Pressure

And Wenger has insisted on a get-out clause in the new £14million deal he will sign within the next two weeks.

That will allow him to walk away if the pressure becomes unbearable.

Gilles Grimandi, one of Wenger's closest allies and Arsenal's chief scout in France, last night revealed: "Before, Arsene was snowed under with work. Now it has become frightening. He is taking on a large part of Dein's work and the situation is getting difficult.

"All of us around Arsene are trying to take the strain off him but Dein is irreplaceable."

Wenger, 57, spent his holiday at a health spa in Italy preparing for the new season.

But as he prepares for Arsenal to start their season against Fulham today, he admits he is a workaholic who finds it impossible to switch off from football.

He regularly stays up to the early hours watching matches from around the globe at his Hertfordshire home.

He said recently: "Sometimes I watch tapes of Arsenal games and I see a man on the touchline I don't recognise. Then I realise it is me and that can be frightening."

One of the major problems for Wenger is that Arsenal are no closer to appointing a successor for Dein.

Grimandi has been tipped for the role of sporting director but there is currently nobody at Wenger's side to negotiate contracts and transfers.

The Gunners boss will sign his new deal soon and admitted: "There is a need to sign my contract before the end of August because I don't want that to be a handicap to the success of the team.

"It could be used to question the success of the team."

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posted Aug 12, 2007

Absolute journaistic CR*P

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posted Aug 12, 2007

Stress? i imagine it is - but its not as sressful as bringing up kids on the minimum wage or not being able to get a job like thouysands of people in London.

so whilst i sympathise - he could stop tomorrow and never HAVE to work again!

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comment by Deco20 (U1517129)

posted Aug 12, 2007

where the hell is gilberto?

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posted Aug 12, 2007

Hiding for vig bad David Healywinkeye

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comment by VanEben (U9309372)

posted Aug 12, 2007

i think Wenger is partly to blame for the pressure on himself, kids are difficult to manage.is Gilberto around?

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posted Aug 12, 2007

I'm a lifelong gooner, but after year after year listening to Henry winge about being tired by October, we now have Wenger complaining about stress. Tell you what I'll swap with him for a month. Bringing up three kids, working full time and constantly balancing your budget, that's stress.

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posted Aug 12, 2007

i can see how wenger is stressed he has a hard job and any manager that loves his job would be in that same position. plus wenger has taken on some of dein's duties like ken frair has as well.

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comment by Sutts4 (U1608623)

posted Aug 13, 2007

all sounds like excuses to me!

surely arsenal struggling to beat fulham will have only increased his stress.

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posted Aug 13, 2007

To goldGoonerpaul,

What a stupidly misinformed comment to make...Arsene is NOT complaining about stress. Giles Grimandi was commenting on HIS concerns for the manager, due to the increase in workload as a result of Dein's departure.

Being a father is stressful, no arguments there, however, no one is complaining about the stress. A friend and colleague is expressing concern, which no doubt considering the paper his comments were published in, were made to sound far more dramatic than the tone in which they were made in the first place.
I suppose you believe that only people living on a budget feel stress? Ever heard of all things being relative?

I too am a lifelong Gooner, and as such I know my history...Herbert Chapman died suddenly, it can happen to anyone, anytime. Rich,Poor,Old,Young...if Arsene bites the dust, I'm sure you and a million other armchair experts would do an admirable job!

The rest of us live in the real world!

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