Doppelganger
Gunners
by Norman Hubbard
Unlike many seemingly moderate middle-aged men, Arsene Wenger seems
to relish all things new. Given a choice between the tried and
trusted and the unfamiliar with unlimited potential, he invariably
opts for the latter. It is easy, therefore, to label Wenger a
neophile yet, if his prodigies appear familiar, it should be no
surprise: the majority appear modelled on their predecessors in the
Arsenal production line.
Most obvious is the resemblance between Kanu and Emmanuel Adebayor.
Both giant west Africans, they share an awkward gait that belies
excellent close control, accompanied by a penchant for the
unpredictable.
The Togolese is the quicker and, unlike the Nigerian, appears at
ease as a sole striker but nevertheless an observer could be
forgiven for thinking that Adebayor is Kanu's younger brother (much
younger if Harry Redknapp's estimates of his top scorer's age are
to be believed).
However, they were never team-mates, unlike Gael Clichy who served
his apprenticeship as Ashley Cole's understudy before the latter's
move to Chelsea. Both are slight figures but, when confident,
advance on the left flank with great verve and sleight of foot,
aided by considerable pace. Armand Traore, though taller and
ganglier, follows the same style of play.
Another similarity, despite a significant height difference, is
between Thierry Henry and Theo Walcott. If the former boasts a club
record tally of 226 goals and the latter has a solitary one, it was
notable that both Walcott's Carling Cup final strike and a brace
for England Under-21s against their German counterparts were
reminiscent of Henry, both with their sudden acceleration and calm
finish in the far corner.
The teenager's game is consciously modelled on his captain's, who
has long exploited his exceptional pace with apparent nonchalance.
As Henry, too, spent many of his formative footballing years on the
flanks, there is a precedent for Wenger to convert a speedy winger
into a prolific striker; for the Frenchman, the transition proved
brief.
Henry apart, arguably Wenger's greatest talisman among his signings
was Patrick Vieira. If the question of the succession has been
raised with the Arsenal manager since his midfield colossus was
sold to Juventus in 2005, it may not be for much longer.
Gilberto Silva may occupy his role, but the greatest resemblance is
with Vassiriki Diaby. The Carling Cup final proved that, his huge
frame notwithstanding, he is attuned to Arsenal's slick passing, as
Vieira had been before him, while both possess the physique to
intimidate.
Yet in a Premiership flooded with supposed new Vieiras in recent
years - all of French or African origin - the majority lacked the
technique and influence Arsenal's former captain provided. Amady
Faye and Abdoulaye Faye may have an imposing presence, but Vieira's
skills were more varied.
Outside Arsenal, only Liverpool's Momo Sissoko merits the tag. At
the Emirates, however, Wenger may have two deserving candidates
with Fabrice Muamba, born in DR Congo but captain of England
Under-19s, on loan at Birmingham and already likened to
Vieira.
At first glance Philippe Senderos seems a throwback to an earlier
era. He looks like the kind of defender George Graham would have
eyed up enviously. That he is ill at ease against Didier Drogba
suggests he may not be the new Tony Adams, Steve Bould or Andy
Linighan.
There are models, however, within the current Arsenal squad for
others.
Johan Djourou has the athleticism, if not the ebullience of Kolo
Toure, another born in the Ivory Coast. Cesc Fabregas is too young
to be imitated, but so gifted is the Spaniard that everything
happens to him at an early age.
And in Denilson, Wenger has found a midfielder who plays with the
same style - physically slight, but precocious playmakers who can
control a game with short, sharp passes while retaining the ability
to find more distant team-mates with longer balls when
required.
Within months of signing Jose Antonio Reyes, Wenger had recruited
another left-footer with a likeness to him. Robin van Persie is
more of a striker and the man on loan at Real Madrid a winger, but
both are capable of offering genuine width as well as providing a
resemblance on the ball.
It is required because the template for the other wide midfielders
was laid down by Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg. Their
successors, Alexander Hleb and Tomas Rosicky, show the same
fondness for diagonal runs infield. Where they differ is inside the
penalty area where Pires and Ljungberg were prolific; Rosicky,
perhaps the most creative outside it, is not, and neither is
Hleb.
Mathieu Flamini, meanwhile, could assume the mantle of another
French odd-job man, Gilles Grimandi, whose versatility and
effectiveness as a substitute made him invaluable to Wenger.
Meanwhile, if Justin Hoyte has a clone, it should be no surprise.
Gavin Hoyte, his younger brother and apparently a quick full-back,
was on the bench at Blackburn. Nor is he the first scion of a
footballing dynasty to attract Wenger's attention; previous
signings have included Christopher Wreh - cousin of his former
Monaco charge George Weah - and Alexandre Song, nephew of
Rigobert.
Others have proved harder to duplicate.
Jens Lehmann, for example, is surely too idiosyncratic to have an
identikit in reserve. And while it could be argued that Henry has
taken over Nicolas Anelka's mantle, three members of Wenger's first
great team, the double winners of 1998, still appear
one-offs.
The Frenchman has never unearthed another Marc Overmars, a winger
of such speed, directness and goalscoring prowess that he helped
determine the title. Nor has he found a second Emmanuel Petit, a
defensive midfielder who was so accomplished at the long pass. And
though David Bentley was championed, perhaps by himself, as the
replacement to their greatest technician, even Wenger has not
produced the next Dennis Bergkamp.
If he does, recreating an outstanding Arsenal team should yield
silverware in a later era... and Wenger, with his scientific bent
and gift for moulding players, would appear to have made a
breakthrough in human cloning.