The Arsenal squad of the late Nineties and early 2000s was packed full with massive personalities.
World-class abilities corresponding to Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp , Marc Overmas, Freddie Ljungberg and Thiery Henry blended it alongside the final remaining members of the membership’s notorious Tuesday Evening Membership period, corresponding to Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Ray Parlour .
Whereas Arsene Wenger’s arrival in 1996 meant a drastic change within the staff’s pre-match preparations, the squad maintained their staff spirit, with Arsenal outdated guard normally on the coronary heart of assorted pranks and comedic episodes.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour remembers good Martin Keown prank
Martin Keown alongside Arsene Wenger
Romford-born Parlour, specifically, was at all times good worth when it got here to this very important a part of team-building and has recalled a hilarious episode when he and Bergkamp tried to persuade Wenger to signal Igors Stepanovs in an effort to wind up Keown.
“Igors got here to Arsenal on trial,” Parlour tells FourFourTwo . “Martin didn’t like centre-half trialists, so within the trial match, me and Dennis Bergkamp had a wager on who may wind Martin up first.
Igors Stepanovs in certainly one of his 17 Premier League appearances for Arsenal (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
“All the pieces Igors did, I clapped, saying, “What a participant this man is!” Then Dennis did it within the second half. Arsene Wenger will need to have been listening to us as a result of he signed him! I cherished Igors – he was a beautiful man – however he in all probability wasn’t as much as the usual we wanted, if I’m being sincere.”
There have been few classier gamers on the pitch than Bergkamp – who was at no.2 in FourFourTwo’s checklist of the best Arsenal gamers ever – however Parlour says the Dutchman loved a prank simply as a lot as the remainder of the squad.
“He cherished it,” Parlour continues. “He as soon as had an image with somebody and I pulled his shorts down, so, once I was sub in a pre-season sport, he pulled my shorts down as I used to be approaching!”
Parlour additionally remembers one other prank he performed on Keown on the finish of the membership’s 2003/04 Invincibles season , which turned out to be the centre-back’s ultimate marketing campaign with the membership.
Keown was no shrinking violet himself throughout his Arsenal profession (Picture credit score: Getty Photographs)
“He wanted yet another look to get a medal,” Parlour provides. “Two subs had already gone on, there have been 5 minutes left and Martin requested me what he ought to do.
“I mentioned, “Heat up. Wenger in all probability doesn’t even know – go and run down the road.” So he warmed up, then I assumed I’d go and heat up as nicely, for amusing. Martin mentioned, “What are you doing?!” I instructed him Gilberto [Silva] had accomplished his hamstring.
“Martin’s face… I assumed he was going to knock me out! I believe he had Wenger by the neck, making an attempt to strangle him! However he received on, which he deserved. I cherished Martin.”
