Quote Originally Posted by Niall_Quinn View Post
Just another victim of another Wenger myth. It has long been held that Wenger nurtures young talent and is one of the best in the business at bringing that talent to the fore. Of course, what nonsense. Wenger has a statistically insignificant hit rate when it comes to developing young players. There's a stream of shattered prospects drowning in this man's wake. Ox is another byproduct of this shoddy production line. Brought up the right way by a competent Southampton operation that has produced so much young talent, once in the hands of Wenger Ox's fate was sealed. Too much exposure too early, as usual. Too much money. A haphazard path to the first team and then random selection thereafter punctuated by the gift of the Arsenal injury curse. Pennant/ Walcott/ Bentley/ Wilshere/ insert your favourite here. The odd ones out are both called Cole. Andy and Cashley. Cashley had great players around him and emerged as a great player himself. Andy did what Ox needs to do, run away as fast as he can and reboot his career. There's a good player in there that can be extracted if a competent manager gets hold of him in time. Or, if by some miracle, Wenger pisses off at the end of this season, maybe the Walcotts and the Wilsheres and Ox can be rescued, provided Wenger doesn't get to inflict his choice for the next manager on the club. Too many ifs and buts, Ox would be better off getting out.
I’ve almost finished reading Bergkamp’s book. So far he hasn’t mentioned Wenger that much but I’ve noticed how much the players talk about how much other players influenced them. We really had a special camp and Henry often talks about the way Dennis Bergkamp would train and how that inspired him. How seeing him on the pitch always giving 100% pushed him to play with such commitment. It had a trickle effect because everyone would train just as hard. That environment and accumulation of players made that squad better. Iron sharpening iron. It makes sense why we’re struggling now. I understand even more why Cesc left. He should have been learning from better players but he was made captain and as an incomplete player, being held up as an example for other young players to follow. Now way should he have been one of our most senior players.