Say Hello, Wave Goodbye
Alas poor Bobby, I knew him well as William Shakespeare may well have written if he were alive today. Contrary to popular rumour, Robert Pires was not offered a two-year deal as part of Thierry Henry’s contract renewal negotiations and it is confirmed that from next year, one of Arsenal’s French contingent will be playing in La Liga. Villarreal will be the next port of call for Pires, fresh from helping sink The Yellow Submarine in this season’s Champions League Semi-Finals.
Sadly for Pires, his last appearance for Arsenal was an eighteen minute cameo in Paris, whereupon he cast a forlorn figure on the bench for the remaining seventy two minutes of the defeat to Barca. Having been prominent in the run to the final, turning in arguably his best performance for the club at Highbury in the Quarter Final against Juventus, it was a sad end to his Arsenal career.
Having signed for the club in 2000, Pires at first struggled to adapt to the English game but when he did, the winger set the Premiership on fire, topping the assists lists regularly over the next three or four years; 2001/02 being his peak at the club, acknowledged by his team-mates as he hobbled to collect his Winners Medal, with a “We Are Not Worthy” bowing scene. The injury suffered against Newcastle in the FA Cup Replay at Highbury was so serious that you wondered if he could fully recover. He did and returned seemingly fitter and quicker than before. In acknowledgement of his achievements that season, he was voted the FWA Player of the Year. Not bad for a man whose season ended in March.
He chipped in with 84 goals in his 284 appearances for the club – not a bad return for a winger, a goal every three or so games. Popular with the players and fans alike, he took as much delight in creating as he did in scoring. In particular, Tottenham were on the receiving end of his finishing touches, a record of eight goals in twelve derbies was always going to make him popular, particularly the winner in the FA Cup Semi Final at Old Trafford and the 5 – 4 win at White Hart Lane in 2004 / 05.
Pires will be remembered as one of the most skilful players to grace the Highbury turf, deceptively fast despite having an idiosyncratic running style due to being pigeon-toed, with immaculate ball control. He scored many important goals for the club, including the winner against Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final at Cardiff.
A sometime DJ with his own French Language radio show, Pires influence on the pitch could still be felt over the last season and a half despite his diminished playing time. This season though he has been used more as a bit part player domestically, replaced by the next generation as Wenger shuffled his midfield to accommodate Hleb and Fabregas. The final nail in the coffin would have been this week’s signing of Tomas Rosicky who, although not a direct replacement, will necessitate shuffling the side again.
His honours list is impressive. Already a World Cup Winner in 1998, after joining Arsenal he added the European Championships in 2000 and Confederations Cup in 2001 & 2003 for his country. In the meantime, his club honours included two Premiership medals, three FA Cup Winners medals, unfortunately not topped off in Europe in May.
I wish him well in the sunshine for the next few seasons at Villarreal.
Sadly for Pires, his last appearance for Arsenal was an eighteen minute cameo in Paris, whereupon he cast a forlorn figure on the bench for the remaining seventy two minutes of the defeat to Barca. Having been prominent in the run to the final, turning in arguably his best performance for the club at Highbury in the Quarter Final against Juventus, it was a sad end to his Arsenal career.
Having signed for the club in 2000, Pires at first struggled to adapt to the English game but when he did, the winger set the Premiership on fire, topping the assists lists regularly over the next three or four years; 2001/02 being his peak at the club, acknowledged by his team-mates as he hobbled to collect his Winners Medal, with a “We Are Not Worthy” bowing scene. The injury suffered against Newcastle in the FA Cup Replay at Highbury was so serious that you wondered if he could fully recover. He did and returned seemingly fitter and quicker than before. In acknowledgement of his achievements that season, he was voted the FWA Player of the Year. Not bad for a man whose season ended in March.
He chipped in with 84 goals in his 284 appearances for the club – not a bad return for a winger, a goal every three or so games. Popular with the players and fans alike, he took as much delight in creating as he did in scoring. In particular, Tottenham were on the receiving end of his finishing touches, a record of eight goals in twelve derbies was always going to make him popular, particularly the winner in the FA Cup Semi Final at Old Trafford and the 5 – 4 win at White Hart Lane in 2004 / 05.
Pires will be remembered as one of the most skilful players to grace the Highbury turf, deceptively fast despite having an idiosyncratic running style due to being pigeon-toed, with immaculate ball control. He scored many important goals for the club, including the winner against Southampton in the 2003 FA Cup Final at Cardiff.
A sometime DJ with his own French Language radio show, Pires influence on the pitch could still be felt over the last season and a half despite his diminished playing time. This season though he has been used more as a bit part player domestically, replaced by the next generation as Wenger shuffled his midfield to accommodate Hleb and Fabregas. The final nail in the coffin would have been this week’s signing of Tomas Rosicky who, although not a direct replacement, will necessitate shuffling the side again.
His honours list is impressive. Already a World Cup Winner in 1998, after joining Arsenal he added the European Championships in 2000 and Confederations Cup in 2001 & 2003 for his country. In the meantime, his club honours included two Premiership medals, three FA Cup Winners medals, unfortunately not topped off in Europe in May.
I wish him well in the sunshine for the next few seasons at Villarreal.
posted by Yogi's Warrior at 3:29 pm
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