MORGAN: ARSENAL NEED TO GROW UP
ARSENAL might believe their kids have finally become men by showing
they can battle but Chris Morgan will only be convinced when,
whatever the score, the young Gunners can shake hands with their
opponents after a game.
Tonight, the even younger deputies to Arsene Wengers youthful team
travel up to Bramall Lane, the scene of a fractious encounter last
season that typified just how easily Arsenal could be bullied out
of points.
Neil Warnocks men bumped and bruised their way to a shock 1-0 win
despite ending the game with Phil Jagielka in goal, with Morgan the
stalwart in an unshakeable defence.
He is a bluff Yorkshireman and was later banned for three matches
for a dig into the ribs on Robin van Persie that might have been
off the ball but was still on-camera.
Still, he maintains, that is no reason for the churlish Arsenal
youngsters to snub their victors on the final whistle a reaction
that still rankles ahead of their Carling Cup clash.
And for all the comments from William Gallas recently that Arsenal
are ready to show the kids can become men, the true measure will
come when the final whistle blows.
Morgan said: It is always upsetting when opposition players refuse
to shake your hand.
At the end of the day it is 11 versus 11 and whatever has happened
you shake each others hand and say, Well played and good luck for
the rest of the season. That is the way it should be.
They might not have been happy. They may have thought they would
come here and get three points. But they came a little bit
unstuck.
We didnt make a big thing about it and if they dont want shake
hands, that is up to them. Part of growing up is learning to do
just that, though.
You play 90 minutes. Ive given you a whack. Youve given me a
whack. Youve skinned me with a bit of skill. Ive taken the ball
off you another time. That is the game of football. You pit your
wits against the player you are playing against. Then when you get
to 90 minutes, you say, Well played.
The Blades new manager Bryan Robson believes Wenger will have
picked his team to face Manchester United at the weekend and
deliberately kept those players out of the firing range
tonight.
Perhaps, then, with some of the lesser lights there will be less of
the do you know how much I earn? kind of banter which Morgan
admits was reported in the dressing room. I didnt hear it during
the game but I heard about it after, he said. It is disappointing
if people come out with that.
They were losing and Philippe Senderos was getting frustrated
about something he might have come out with, something that he
probably regretted saying.
You dont come across a great deal of that in the game. He will be
probably be a bit embarrassed about it.
By contrast, Morgan is not the least bit contrite about his own
wrong-doings getting widespread exposure. After all, he did his
time a long while ago. Van Persie probably cant even remember
me, he said. They have moved on and we ended up relegated.
Was he complaining about little bits and bobs that went on? Well,
thats life, isnt it.
The Dutchman is injured so it is likely that Croatia striker
Eduardo might play. While he has made only two starts in the
Premier League his abilities are no secret to Robson.
I tried to sign him when I was at West Brom, he said. It was one
of those where the chairman wouldnt go with the money. We were
talking about £4 million at the time.
