We scared the shit out of Robert Pires....

[Helmerroids]

Former Arsenal star Robert Pires has spoken about his introduction to English football and claimed he was ready to quit English football without kicking a ball after watching 25 minutes of the Gunners opening game of the 2000/01 season against Sunderland from the bench.
Signed from Marseille after helping France to glory at the European Championships in the summer of 2000, Pires eventually overcame his fears of Premier League physicality to become one of the division’s most highly regarded foreign imports.
A winner of two league titles and three FA Cups and crowned the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year in 2002 during an amazingly successful six seasons at Highbury, the former French international revealed to Arsenal TV Online that it could have been oh so different had he not overcome first day nerves.
“Let me tell you a story about my first game with Arsenal. It was away to Sunderland and Arsene Wenger said to me, ‘I’m going to put you on the bench and you’ll be able to see how they play football in England.’
“I can tell you that after 20-25 minutes I wanted to return to France because I could tell how difficult it was going to be here. That’s how it all started for me.
“It was his way of saying, ‘look if you want to succeed in English football it’s going to be very, very hard.’
“He was right, that day at Sunderland was a real shock for me the way the sides got stuck into each other, but he had confidence in me, picked me and I adapted to the style of play. There was no question that I had the best years of my career here at Arsenal.”
Pires is currently training with Arsene Wenger’s squad as he looks to retain fitness while looking for a new club. The Gallic midfield maestro left Spanish side Villarreal after four seasons at the end of last term and is thought to be eager to play two final season in the French top flight.

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football...o_France.aspx?

Would this have been Stan Varga's inspirational debut? If it was, his and Pires careers then went in polar opposite directions.

Interesting that he's training with the Gunners, wonder if he'll do a Campbell and up re-signing, probs unlikely - turns 37 this month. Class player in his day, according to wikipedia he's 6ft 4", gotta be bollocks that like!

[j.w]

Stan Varga's debut

fucking immense

[Freddie the Greek]

Originally Posted by Helmerroids

Former Arsenal star Robert Pires has spoken about his introduction to English football and claimed he was ready to quit English football without kicking a ball after watching 25 minutes of the Gunners opening game of the 2000/01 season against Sunderland from the bench.
Signed from Marseille after helping France to glory at the European Championships in the summer of 2000, Pires eventually overcame his fears of Premier League physicality to become one of the division’s most highly regarded foreign imports.
A winner of two league titles and three FA Cups and crowned the Football Writers’ Association’s Footballer of the Year in 2002 during an amazingly successful six seasons at Highbury, the former French international revealed to Arsenal TV Online that it could have been oh so different had he not overcome first day nerves.
“Let me tell you a story about my first game with Arsenal. It was away to Sunderland and Arsene Wenger said to me, ‘I’m going to put you on the bench and you’ll be able to see how they play football in England.’
“I can tell you that after 20-25 minutes I wanted to return to France because I could tell how difficult it was going to be here. That’s how it all started for me.
“It was his way of saying, ‘look if you want to succeed in English football it’s going to be very, very hard.’
“He was right, that day at Sunderland was a real shock for me the way the sides got stuck into each other, but he had confidence in me, picked me and I adapted to the style of play. There was no question that I had the best years of my career here at Arsenal.”
Pires is currently training with Arsene Wenger’s squad as he looks to retain fitness while looking for a new club. The Gallic midfield maestro left Spanish side Villarreal after four seasons at the end of last term and is thought to be eager to play two final season in the French top flight.

http://www.sport.co.uk/news/Football...o_France.aspx?

Would this have been Stan Varga's inspirational debut? If it was, his and Pires careers then went in polar opposite directions.

Interesting that he's training with the Gunners, wonder if he'll do a Campbell and up re-signing, probs unlikely - turns 37 this month. Class player in his day, according to wikipedia he's 6ft 4", gotta be bollocks that like!

Aye that was the Varga game! Iirc, Darren Holloway was acting himself with any Arsenal player who came near him that day and was steaming into tackles! He got Pires as soon as he came on!

[Flash Gordon]

One of my favourite non- SAFC players. He was fantastic to watch. During Arsenal's unbeaten season he was unplayable.

[Roid]

This the one where Jurgen Macho (sp) came on at half time?

[nandos sonic sauce]

Originally Posted by Flash Gordon

One of my favourite non- SAFC players. He was fantastic to watch. During Arsenal's unbeaten season he was unplayable.

I remember him playing well when he played for Metz? againgst the mags

[20 a day frog]

Awesome player however what always sticks in my mind was THAT penalty with va va voom. Pure comedy

[DazedAndConfused]

Originally Posted by Flash Gordon

One of my favourite non- SAFC players. He was fantastic to watch. During Arsenal's unbeaten season he was unplayable.

A loved him like and fantastic with Henry

[OscarO]

One of those games that have stuck clear in my memory and will be forever. And I only watched it on the telly. I would like a copy of that match to relive it - I'm pretty sure Pires or another Arsenal player said something about the atmosphere that game..ahh what would life be like without memories...Varga that game - one of the best defensive performances I've seen.

[Northern_Star]

Originally Posted by Flash Gordon

One of my favourite non- SAFC players. He was fantastic to watch. During Arsenal's unbeaten season he was unplayable.

When you think back to that team now, it was fucking immense and an awesome acheivement. Pires, Henry, Ljungberg, Bergkamp were totally unplayable