So, while Arsenal news is slow and filled with rumours and during an international break, I thought I would look at the Gunners history when it comes to the World Cup.
Born in 1987, it would be another 11 years until an Arsenal player kicked a ball in FIFA’s showpiece event.
We didn’t have a single representative at Italia 90.
Eddie McGoldrick went to USA 94 but never came off the bench for Ireland.
Which brings us to France 1998.
At this point the domestic game in the UK had changed. It was more common for British clubs to buy talent from abroad, with Arsene Wenger a big part of that due to his knowledge of the World market.
Logically the more overseas players in North London increased Arsenal’s representation at future tournaments.
Compared to the 1 Gunner who participated in the previous two editions, 7 flew to France.
You could argue that in the proud history of the famous gold trophy, never had players from Highbury made the journey so confident.
Dennis Bergkamp had won numerous Players of the Year awards, Marc Overmars had been our star man in the second half of the campaign, Vieira and Petit were credited as the best midfield partnership in the country while Mr Wenger had been praised for prolonging the careers of Seaman, Adams and Keown due to fresh training and dietary methods.
Adams has since admitted that, now sober, this was one of the few tournaments he could enjoy where the pressure of the occasion wasn’t handled by drink.
He was one of the few to benefit from the seclusion and boredom around the team hotel and was responsible for entertainment, such as how many song quotes he and his peers could sneak into interviews.
The trio of English Gunners have all complimented Glen Hoddle’s training sessions and tactical insight if not his man-management style.
The Three Lions exit to Argentina is one of the few exciting knockout ties we have participated in.
Seaman had a mixed night, conceding a spot kick after 5 minutes but also making a save in the penalty shoot after a 2-2 draw.
That would send Argentina on a collision course with Holland, memorable for the goal of the tournament.
Bergkamp had missed our title run in and FA Cup Final due to injury so was nursed gently into the Dutch’s first few fixtures.
With seconds to go of the quarter final, the striker, with one touch, controlled a stunning pass by De Boer, the second took the ball past the defender, the third scored.
If you never watched it – Here it is!
France had a great mixture of experience and youth in their squad.
So, when Zidane got suspended or LeBouef and Blanc injured, you could bring in a youngster like Vieira.
Early in the final he came on for Desailly and ended up playing the pass that set up Petit to make it 3-0 against Brazil.
The duo seen vital to our Double had now lifted the World Cup!
For many the story was what happened to the Brazilian Ronaldo that day with conspiracy theories still abound to this present day.
The biggest story though was the impact the result had on the host nation.
Perhaps few World Cup matches had as much political impact as this.
The class of 98 are viewed as doing ‘more for integration then politics will.’
Zidane, scorer of two headers, is the son of Algerian immigrants. Vieira, born in Senegal, assisted Petit from Normandy.
Known as ‘La France – black – blanc- beur’ due to its range of ethnicities, a whole nation came together.
No matter race, religion, culture, everyone in France was one!
Dan Smith
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WATCH THE TRANSFER SHOW –Alfie and Rob discuss Arsenal signing Pepe replacement (Bowen?)
After seeing spurs snapping up some of the best players available, watching that Bergkamp goal a few times has really lightened my mood, thanks Dan.
I know Bissouma for 30M!!not the 50M that a lot of people were quoting.that’s what happens when your manager insists/demands to have their business done early to have time to work with the new players.
When let players be themselves, they treats you with some sumptuous football out of this world. So if you can teach that don’t restrict it.
There was a time during Wenger’s prosperous reign, our whole squad played in the World Cup. Post Highbury off course.
My 2002 article there are a few
That time between 1998 -2004 was fantastic .
How I wish we could have that again .
HH,I can still remember articles on JA about our players on international duties and worrying about which players would get or did get injured.
As a Frenchman,I can still remember it like yesterday!I still have a few newspapers clips framed in my “man cave.”winning the WC on home soil and being our first and with the team we had,this was the first time that every French citizen felt a real connection with the team,people who had barely anything in common celebrating with no incidents.studies later showed that the impact it had on France was immense on several levels (sporting,economic, political even on the well being of people) and lasted for a couple of years afterwards.
OMG I miss the old boys so much: Bergkamp, Henry, Peres, Parlour, Llundberg, Sol, Seaman, Kanu, Lauren, and the others
The best time of my life. Came so close to winning CL too
I don’t recall Bissouma being on our transfer list in this market. We walked away from him when his price was inflated and signed Lokonga who has a bright future with us. So why are people crying over Bissouma as if he is better than Partey.
I don’t recall this article being about him maybe take your comment towards said articles there are plenty of them