with
cooking the gunners
every arsenal player’s favorite dish
Cooking with The Gunners is a collection of recipes submitted by past and present Arsenal FC football players. It is created with one goal in mind: to build a sense of community between the players and our loyal fans. It is for professionals as well as beginners, and has a focus on the favorite dishes of Arsenal FC footballers. Because our squad is composed of players from around the world, it only makes sense for the recipes in this cookbook to reflect that.
BY EDWIN TO RRES
table of
contents your guide through this cookbook
Kickoff 4
Arsenal FC Legends
Acknowledgements
8
78
Club History
101 103
The Starting Eleven 12 36
107
64 72
The Arsenal Spirit The Gunners’ Fan Club
Arsenal FC Faculty
Q&A Starting Eleven
Substitutes & Reserves 62
Heroes Together
The Starting Eleven Recipes
110
42
Arsenal FC Legends Recipes
Substitutes & Reserves Recipes The Training Ground Q&A Select Substitutes
The Emirates Stadium
122 126 128
Arsenal FC Faculty Recipes Getting Familiar with the Staff
Thank You Glossary
..
mesut ozil
11
the
starting
ele ven the first team’s favorite dishes
Enjoy the favorite dishes of Arsenal’s starting line-up from the comfort of your own home! Franchise players such as Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, and Santi Cazorla share some delicious recipes from their respective home countries. Other Arsenal players featured in this section include: Per Mertesacker, Petr Cech, Olivier Giroud, Aaron Ramsey, Nacho Monreal, Hector Bellerin and Theo Walcott. Because each of these players have such diverse cultural backgrounds, you will find yourself drooling over a number of French, Spanish, German and British dishes. Remember to download our app so you can bring the shopping list to the store with you!
caramel
apple strudel ..
by mesut ozil
midfielder
When Arsenal’s midfield maestro Mesut Ozil isn’t orchestrating their attack, he loves taking a bite out of a sweet and salted caramel apple strudel. Apple strudel is a delicious pastry filled with apples flavoured with sugar, cinnamon, caramel, and breadcrumbs. The delicate pastry is made from an elastic dough, which is kneaded and stretched until it’s thin. The pastry is wrapped around filling building up many layers and then baked. It’s served in warm slices sprinkled with sugar. This Apfelstrudel is a great dish to put out during parties.
13
COOKING WITH THE GUNNERS
MINUTES
SERVES
METHOD
DIFFICULTY
ORIGIN
75
4
BAKE
7/10
GER
ingredients & preparation ½ CUP GRANULATED SUGAR
2 POUNDS OF APPLES
6 SHEETS FROZEN PHYLLO DOUGH
1 STICK SALTED BUTTER
3 TABLESPOONS GINGERSNAPS
½ CUP COLD HEAVY CREAM
2 TEASPOONS APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
½ TEASPOON GROUND CINNAMON
CONFECTIONERS’ SUGAR
STEP 1: To make the caramel, combine the granulated sugar, 1/3 cup water and the salt in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring just until the sugar dissolves. Cook, gently swirling the skillet occasionally, 8 to 10 minutes. Brush any sugar crystals off the side of the skillet with a brush. Remove from the heat and whisk in 3 tablespoons butter and the vinegar. STEP 2: Add the apples and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft. Strain the apples and transfer to a bowl; set the caramel aside. Toss 1 tablespoon gingersnap crumbs and the cinnamon with the apples; let cool completely. STEP 3: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a sheet of phyllo on a clean kitchen towel or piece of parchment with a long side in front of you Lightly brush the phyllo with some of the melted butter and sprinkle with granulated sugar. Layer another sheet of phyllo on top; brush with butter and sprinkle with more sugar. Repeat with the remaining 4 sheets of phyllo. Sprinkle the remaining 2 tablespoons gingersnap on top. STEP 4: Spoon the apple filling onto the phyllo in a strip along the bottom edge, leaving a 1-inch border. Use the towel or parchment to help roll the phyllo into a log, starting at the bottom edge. Place seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Make a few slits on top with a knife to vent. Bake until golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. STEP 5: Beat the heavy cream in a bowl with a mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form, then gently fold in some of the reserved caramel. Dust the strudel with a small amount of confectioners’ sugar and cut into pieces. Serve with the caramel whipped cream and more caramel; sprinkle with salt.
THE STARTING ELEVEN
14
chacarero
chileno
by alexis sanchez
midfielder
When Arsenal’s electrifying midfielder Alexis Sanchez isn’t penetrating defences in the Premier League, he loves taking a bite out of a delicious chacarero. Chacarero is a fantastic Chilean sandwich made with thinly sliced beef-style steak, on a round roll with tomatoes, green beans, avocado and hot sauce. It has a perfect balance of ingredients. This colorful sandwich uses ingredients from the farm (chacra) to give it its signature look. It is one of the many varieties of sandwich served in Chilean fuentes de soda, or schoperías and restaurants.
15
COOKING WITH THE GUNNERS
MINUTES
SERVES
METHOD
DIFFICULTY
ORIGIN
35
2-4
GRILL
3/10
CHI
ingredients & preparation ½ TEASPOON SALT
2 AVOCADOS
4 LARGE FRENCH BREAD
½ TEASPOON PEPPER
2 ½ TABLESPOON LIME JUICE
2 SLICED TOMATOES
1 BONELESS SIRLOIN STEAK
1 BAG OF GREEN BEANS
JALAPEÑO AND HOT SAUCE
STEP 1: Season steak with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, mix 2 Tbsp. of the hot sauce and 2 Tbsp. of the lime juice with the orange juice, vinegar and oil. Place steak and marinade in a ziploc bag, seal, shake, and refrigerate for 30 min. STEP 2: Mash avocado with remaining ½ Tbsp. lime juice, season with salt and pepper, fold in tomatoes, cover and refrigerate. At this point, you may also dice the jalapeños and refrigerate along with the avocado and tomatoes. STEP 3: Preheat oven to 250° fahrenheit. Heat grill to medium high. Remove steak from marinade, pat dry and season with remaining ½ Tbsp. Merken. Mix butter with granulated garlic, season with salt and pepper, and use to butter inside of each piece of bread. Place buttered side up on a baking sheet and toast in the oven until golden, about 20 min. STEP 4: Meanwhile, cook steak on grill to desire doneness. Remove and let rest for roughly 5 min. Slice across the grain into ½-inch strips. STEP 5: Place a layer of avocado mixture on the inside of each bottom piece of toasted bread, top with a layer of steak strips, a layer of green beans, and a layer of tomatoes. Spread a small amount of mayonaise on inside of each top piece of toasted bread, place on top of the green beans and serve.
THE STARTING ELEVEN
16
alex oxlade-chamberlain
15
substitutes &
reserves
the second team’s favorite dishes
Our subsititutes and reserves are integral to this team and it’s future success. The bench has a great balance of experience and raw talent waiting to make the breakthrough into the starting eleven. In this section you’ll find dishes by Danny Welbeck, Jack Wilshere, Tomås Rosicky, Gabriel, Kieran Gibbs, Mathieu Debuchy, Mikel Arteta, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. You’ll be sure to encounter a great deal of cultural diversity amongst these recipes! The ingredients used in this section can all be found at your local supermarket. Look for these icons to learn more information about each recipe such as its orgin and difficulty!
bacon wrapped
chicken breasts by Danny Welbeck
Striker
Arsenal’s Deadline Day signing, Danny Welbeck, from long time rivals Manchester United has brought along quite the appetite with him. Besides battling Olivier Giroud for the lone striking role in Arsenal’s front line, Welbz enjoys eating bacon wrapped chicken breasts on his days off. Bacon wrapped chicken breast elevates this humble dish into a whole new level. The bacon adds a delightfully smoky flavor, and also keeps the chicken breast extra juicy. The honey-mustard sauce finishes the dish, creating a delicacy out of the simplest of ingredients.
42
COOKING WITH THE GUNNERS
MINUTES
SERVES
METHOD
DIFFICULTY
ORIGIN
45
4
ROAST
5/10
USA
ingredients & preparation 2 TABLESPOONS MUSTARD
½ TEASPOON KOSHER SALT
2 TABLESPOONS HONEY
¼ TEASPOON BLACK PEPPER
4 (8 OZ) BONELESS CHICKEN BREASTS
½ TEASPOON GARLIC POWDER
8 STRIPS OF BACON
STEP 1: Preheat oven to 450° fahrenheit. Line a roasting pan with foil and fit it with your preferred roasting rack. Now, spray the roasting rack with olive oil. STEP 2: In a small bowl, whisk the mustard and honey to create the perfect sauce that compliments the chicken nicely. Divide sauce into two portions. Set aside. STEP 3: Sprinkle the chicken breasts with the seasonings, to taste. Proceed to wrap each chicken breast with 2 or more strips of bacon. STEP 4: Place the wrapped chicken breasts on the prepared roasting rack. Brush them with half the mustard-honey sauce. Wash the basting brush with warm soapy water and keep the other half of the sauce for brushing the chicken breasts when they finish cooking. STEP 5: Bake the chicken breasts for 20-30 minutes, depending on their size, until they reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. STEP 6: Switch the oven to broil and broil the chicken breasts 1-2 minutes on each side, to crisp up the bacon. Brush with the remaining sauce and serve. NOTE: To lower the carb count of this recipe, use the sauce only before baking, using just 1 tablespoon mustard and 1 tablespoon honey.
SUBSTITUTES AND RESERVES
43
an interview with
danny welbeck
Arsenal’s surprising deadline day signing Danny Welbeck has enjoyed a stunning start to his career here in London. Here is a flashback of Danny’s first interview with the club over a year ago, courtesy of the Arsenal Media Team.
DANNY, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE AN ARSENAL
balls through, I can run on to the end of
PLAYER? WHAT’S DIFFERENT FROM UNITED?
those balls and slot plenty of them away. That’s what I did at Manchester and that’s
It’s exciting times for me. It’s great to be
what i’ll continue to do here with Arsenal.
a part of this club and it’s a team that I’ve
I can’t wait to play in front of Mesut Ozil.
always watched in the Premier League.
He’s a real wizard, that one.
I’ve envisaged myself playing in this team before and wearing the Arsenal red. For it
TELL ME, HOW DID THE FINAL MOVE UNFOLD
to finally happen is very exciting. The boys
FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE?
have all been very welcoming as well and that has helped me settle in fairly quickly.
It went right down to the wire in the end. Manchester were being very difficult. They
YOU SAY YOU PICTURE YOURSELF IN THE
wanted more money and Arsenal weren’t
TEAM, WHY MIGHT THAT BE DANNY?
willing to match their price. It’s difficult to say how I really felt at the [different] times
I love the style of play Arséne Wenger’s
of each day because the deal was on and
got and how the boys play and with the
then it was off but at the end of the day I’m
magnificent players in midfield slotting
an Arsenal player and I couldn’t be happier.
DO YOU SENSE THAT ARSENAL ARE A CLUB
BEING AT MANCHESTER UNTD MOST OF YOUR
Danny Welbeck can look back now with
March when Arsenal beat United in the
ON THE RISE IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE?
LIFE... WAS IT DIFFICULT TO LEAVE?
one of his trademark beaming smiles. But
quarter-final
at the time, he admits it felt “kind of weird.”
their emotional Welbeck. Welbeck’s first
Yeah definitely. They’ve done well in recent
Things move on in life and I think you’ve
Welbeck was warming up, going through
season at Arsenal was frustrated by injury,
years and last year we got the FA Cup and
really got to make the right decision in
his familiar pre-match routine when the
not least a knee problem that forced him
I feel like it’s time where we could really
the situation that you’re in at that moment
reality dawned that he was on the “other
to miss the Wembley final when Arsenal
push on and try and challenge for the
in time. My time at Manchester had run
side” of Old Trafford. It felt like being a
thrashed Aston Villa. For any player, it is
Premier League title. I’ve got one medal
its course and I was not happy with my
guest in his old home. For most players,
always heartbreaking to miss the cup final,
and I want to add to that.
situation anymore. I really do believe that
transfers are easy. Family is everything
to be an awkward bystander amid all the
coming to Arsenal is the right decision. I
to Welbeck and leaving home, leaving
celebrations. Yet he is convinced better
MANY ARSENAL FANS HAVE SEEN YOU PLAY.
believe I can really grow as a player here
Manchester United and Old Trafford was
things are to come. I will leave you with
WHAT CAN YOU BRING TO THIS TEAM?
and help this club with a push for the title.
something that was always going to take
a short quote that delves further into the
I’d like to bring pace and power to the game. At Arsenal, we’re not short of combination football and I like to join in on that and get in behind defenders and try to get shots off at goal. I want to score some goals and help the team to achieve the
“
which
was
undoubtedly
I feel like it’s time where we could really push on and try to challenge for the Premier League title.
“
right results. Arsenal have been in the top four consistently over the past five or six years and I want to be able to push them
plenty of time and getting used
mind of Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck.
to the next level. I’ve been at United ever
to. Less than a year later, he’s
“I first started playing football on the
since I was a little boy and I had a great
settled in London, enjoying
streets with my brothers and friends. I was
time there. I just think this is the next stage
Arsenal and more than played
just playing for the love of it. You still love
of my development - to come to Arsenal,
his part in the club’s FA Cup
it today and you feel like it’s the thing that
to really show people what I can do as a
success even if he missed
you are born to do. Playing five-a-sides,
footballer and hopefully get to the place
the final through injury.
on the street outside and you never lose
where I want to be.
Welbeck
the
those memories. As you start getting older,
winner at Old Trafford
scored
you start joining teams and the love for the
that night back in
game grows even more.”
SUBSTITUTES AND RESERVES
65
thierry henry
14
arsenal fc
LEGENDS our legends’ favorite dishes
Taste the favorite dishes of legendary players from Arsenal FC. Beloved players such as Tony Adams, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp share some tasty recipes from their respective home countries. Other legendary Arsenal players featured in this section include Patrick Vieira, Freddie Ljunberg, Ian Wright, Cesc Fabregas, David Seaman, Paul Merson, Laim Brady, Martin Keown, and Robert Pires. Because each of these players have such diverse cultural backgrounds, you can learn to cook Spanish, Scottish, and French dishes; All in the comfort of your own home. The ingredients used in this section can all be found at your local supermarket.
steak
au poivre by thierry henry
Striker
The Gunners record goalscorer and golden boy, Thierry Henry, spent over 8 years in London with the club but he never abandoned his French roots. Steak au Poivre originated in the 19th century in the bistros of Normandy, where noted figures took their female companions for late suppers, and where pepper’s purported aphrodisiac properties may have proved most useful. It seems Henry had a thing for scoring both on and off the field. This steak is coated with loosely cracked peppercorns and then cooked, forming a nice crust on the steak.
79
COOKING WITH THE GUNNERS
MINUTES
SERVES
METHOD
DIFFICULTY
ORIGIN
35
4
GRILL
7/10
FRA
ingredients & preparation 3 TBSP. BLACK PEPPERCORNS
1 TBSP. VEGETABLE OIL
½ CUP HEAVY CREAM
4 (6OZ.) BEEF FILETS, 1 ½ THICK
½ CUP COGNAC
SALT AND PEPPER
2 TBSP. BUTTER
1 CUP BEEF STOCK
STEP 1: Wrap peppercorns in a clean dish towel, then crush, either by pressing firmly with the bottom of a heavy skillet or by tapping gently with a mallet. (Peppercorns should be cracked, not ground.) Transfer pepper to a plate, then roll filets in it so that they are evenly coated. Season liberally on both sides with salt. STEP 2: Heat butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add filets and cook until well browned, about 4 minutes on each side for medium rare. Transfer steaks to four warmed plates. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm while you prepare sauce. STEP 3: To prepare the sauce: add cognac to the hot pan, then carefully ignite with a long-handled match. (Keep lid handy so flame can be extinguished if necessary.) Allow alcohol to burn off, about 1 minute, then add 1 cup of beef stock. Cook until reduced by half, about 4 minutes. *Note: Be very careful when adding the cognac. The alcohol will cause a large flame and must be controlled. STEP 4: Finally, add cream and cook, stirring occasionally, until thick (about 3–5 minutes). Season with salt and pour a generous amount over your steaks. TIP: For more flavor, add the juices from the steaks to the sauce after they are rested.
ARSENAL FC LEGENDS
80
Sole
Meuniere by dennis bergkamp
Striker
Dennis Bergkamp, known as The Iceman and long time striking partner of Thierry Henry, is a Dutch international with a soft spot for French dishes. Much like Henry, Dennis believed certain food had aphrodisiac properties and Sole meuniÊre was one of them. Sole meunière is a classic French fish dish consisting of sole, preferably whole or fillet, that is dredged in flour, pan fried in butter and served with the resulting brown butter sauce, parsley and lemon. Sole has a light but moist texture when cooked and has a mild flavour.
81
COOKING WITH THE GUNNERS
MINUTES
SERVES
METHOD
DIFFICULTY
ORIGIN
30
4
SEAR
4/10
FRA
ingredients & preparation 4 FILLETS SOLE, SKIN-ON
5 ½ TBSP BUTTER, IDEALLY UNSALTED
4 LARGE POTATOES
6 TBSP PLAIN FLOUR
2 LEMONS, JUICE ONLY
4 TBSP OLIVE OIL (FOR POTATOES)
3 TBSP LIGHT OLIVE OIL
1 TBSP MINCED FRESH PARSLEY
1 BAG OF ROCKET LEAVES
STEP 1: Check the fish for small bones and pull any out with tweezers. In a large shallow bowl, season the flour with a little salt and black pepper. Toss the fish in the flour, coating well, and shake off any excess. STEP 2: Heat the oil in a large frying pan. Add the fish and cook, skin-side down, for 2 mins. Use a fish slice or large spatula to turn, then cook the other side for 1-2 mins until golden. STEP 3: Remove the fish to a warmed plate, then season. Wipe out the pan with kitchen paper. Return the pan to the heat, then add the butter. Heat until it melts and begins to turn a light brown, then mix in the lemon juice and capers, if using. Swirl in the pan for a few secs, return fish to the pan and spoon over any juices. Serve immediately.
TIP: Pairs well with CRUSHED POTATOES WITH ROCKET AND LEMON STEP 1: Boil the potatoes in their skins for about 15 minutes, until tender. Drain well, return to the pan and crush roughly with a fork. STEP 2: Stir in the olive oil and lemon juice, and season with plenty of salt and freshly ground black pepper. Now, stir in the rocket until just wilted. Serve along side youre Sole meuniére.
ARSENAL FC LEGENDS
82
arsĂŠne Wenger
arsenal fc
fa c u lt y
the coaching staff’s favorite dishes
Throughout the season, the coaching staff faces plenty of turmoil and grief due to a lack of results, spreading of false rumors, and injuries to players crucial to the title challenge. Time and time again our staff has shown its resiliance in these matters and we would like to show them a small token of appreciation by bringing them out of the shadows and into the spotlight. Here, you will be able to create dishes by ArsĂŠne Wenger, Steve Bould, Boro Primorac, Neil Banfield, Shad Forsythe, Tony Colbert, Ben Ashworth, Craig Grant, and Gerry Payton. Impress your friends and family by cooking these simple, yet delicious meals from all over the globe!
magret
de canard by arsĂŠne wenger
coach
With almost 20 years of being at the helm of Arsenal, ArsĂŠne Wenger has had plenty of time to get accustomed to traditional English meals. However, he remains faithful to his homeland and is often spotted eating in French restaurants near Holloway, London. He is a big fan of Magret de canard. Magret de Canard is a lean meat, cut from the breast of a goose or duck fat, fattened by gavage, the same used to produce confit and foie gras. Traditionally this dish is accompanied by a great red wine such as Syrah. A classy meal for a classy manager.
111
COOKING WITH THE GUNNERS
MINUTES
SERVES
METHOD
DIFFICULTY
ORIGIN
35
2
GRILL
6/10
FRA
ingredients & preparation 2 LARGE DUCK BREASTS
6 GARLIC CLOVES (SLICED FINE)
2 PEACHES (PEELED AND SLICED)
2 HANDFULS OF CHOPPED PARSLEY
5 LARGE POTATOES
1 TBSP BUTTER
SALT AND PEPPER
STEP 1: Pre-heat the oven on 375° fahrenheit. Just before you start cooking the duck, start frying on a medium heat the sliced potatoes with one tbsp. butter for 8 minutes. Set aside. STEP 2: In a large cool frying pan, place your 2 duck breasts skin touching the base. Switch on the heat to moderate and start frying. Every 5 minutes or so, when the duck fat melts, pour in a bowl, reserve the fat, and continue frying. Too much oil will make your duck skin burn. Pour 8 tbp sof the reserved duck fat onto the potatoes and continue frying till cooked and golden. STEP 3: Flip potatoes constantly. Add salt. By 20-25 minutes they should be cooked. Put potatoes in a small cake mold and press gently with a potato masher or a large spoon so the potatoes take a good shape. You don’t want to mash the potatoes, just press them. Place in the oven for 5-8 minutes. STEP 4: After 20-25 minutes of duck frying, flip over the breasts and cook maximum 5 minutes. Meanwhile you can fry the garlic in a tsp of duck fat until golden and the sliced peach for 3 minutes. They can be fried in the same pan. STEP 5: Take the potato cake out of the oven, remove from mold and place on a serving plate. Put the chopped parsley and fried garlic on top. Slice the duck breast, season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
ARSENAL FC FACULTY
112
an interview with
arsene ´ Wenger
With nearly 20 years of being at the helm of this club, Gunner’s boss Arséne Wenger gives us exclusive insight into his tactics and also explains how he’s managed to become the Barclay Premier League’s longest-serving manager. Interview courtesy of BeIN Sports.
Here, in an exclusive interview with beIN
WHAT WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT RESULT?
Sports, the Arsenal manager discusses this season, the chances of signing Petr
Maybe our win at Manchester City where
Cech, Alexis Sanchez and even Thierry
it was not expected from us and overall,
Henry’s recent criticism of Olivier Giroud.
maybe the win in the FA Cup away at Manchester United. These were moments
ARSÉNE, HOW DO YOU ASSESS THIS SEASON?
that strengthened the belief of my team.
The question marks always exist because
WHAT ARE YOUR ASPIRATIONS FOR NEXT
it’s part of our job and we feel that we are in
SEASON? CHAMPIONS LEAGUE? FA CUP?
a cup final again, we have made progress in the championship. The questions marks
The aspirations are the same as always:
last year were a lot about us dealing with
to fight to win the Premier League, to do
the big games and I think we have moved
well in the Champions League and to do
forward on that front, especially since
well in the FA Cup. That has not changed.
December and January. We have become
We have been in two finals in the last two
resilient, reliable and a consistent team.
years in the FA Cup. I believe the regret
Overall we have definitely moved forward.
of the season is our exit against Monaco
but Monaco has the same regret against
ARE YOU READY TO SPEND BIG THIS SUMMER?
Juventus because they didn’t deserve to go
We are not [focused] on Petr Cech at the
but I always believe there is a difference
moment. We are focused on finishing
between saying the performance of a
out against Juventus. On our side we feel
We are ready to spend the money for
well this season and therefore it is very
player today was bad or saying that he is
that we were guilty of wanting too make
players who strengthen our team. There
important not to talk too much about what
not at the level for this team.
the difference in the first game.
is a difference in that and just spending
we do after. I’m focused on tomorrow. The
money. If I ask you who has spent the most
quality of our season is decided now. We
WOULD YOU HAVE QUIT ARSENAL HAD YOU
IS THERE A SENSE THAT THIS SEASON WAS A
money this last season and if I give you last
are not directly qualified in the Champions
NOT WON THE FA CUP LAST SEASON?
MISSED OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE LEAGUE?
season, and the season before, it is never
League. We have a FA Cup final to play and
the teams who have won the champion-
after that we see where we stand and what
Maybe. I have the luck. I’ve won it five times
Yes and no. Yes because if we would have
ship. If for example we got a player like
we can do after that match.
with Arsenal. I know how big it is and how
started like that, we would have done it. No
Coquelin, if we had bought Coquelin for
because the championship is about consis-
£40m in December, because he started
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIERRY HENRY’S
other hand, you have to be serious when
tency and we didn’t start well. Having said
to play in December, everybody would
COMMENTS ABOUT OLIVIER GIROUD?
you’ve been at the club for seventeen or
that, after the World Cup we had many
say, ‘What a buy! What a great player!’, but
problems on the injury front and if you
the fact that he comes out from our own
Nobody can win you the Premier League
game, a cup final, considered to be leaving
get a player who has just won the World
club and plays, everybody says you still
title alone. Olivier Giroud is part of the
for that but it’s what people want. We are in
Cup, it’s impossible that in September he
have to buy a player in his position. You
squad and he has done extremely well.
a job where we have to accept that we are
is at his peak and we have paid a heavy
have to be careful sometimes not to rate
He’s scored 14 goals in the Premier League
on a permanent tribunal now and on every
price for that. On the other hand, Chelsea
the players only
has only lost two games so that has made
by the amount
them difficult to beat.
of money they cost
but
just
IS ALEXIS SANCHEZ YOUR BEST TRANSFER
look at how they
SINCE THIERRY HENRY?
perform. We are now in a position
important it is but it is one game. On the
eighteen years. We should not, just on one
single game you are
“
We are in a position where we just want a player with an exceptional quality that can strengthen us.
“
judged and you have to accept it and live with it but still, you know what is great in our job? You have to believe in what is
Yes, he’s the closest maybe. He has similar
where we just
movement and he’s a killer as well. He
want a player
wants to always play and win. He’s highly
with an exceptional quality in any area that
in 20 games. He works very hard for the
football can carry and the pleasure that we
focused, motivated and is always looking
can strengthen us. We need to be patient
team. Alone, of course he cannot win it. It is
can give to people through the game and
to benefit the team. He has been excellent
and wait for the right player to come along.
like that when a striker misses chances. It
we have to focus on that. It’s still a great
for both club and country this year.
If we force it, it can come back to haunt us.
happens to everybody. They are criticized
day and a moment you can enjoy together.
great in our game and the values that
ARSENAL FC FACULTY
123
eat like a true gunner!
Cooking with The Gunners is a broad collection of recipes submitted by past and present Arsenal FC football players. It is created with one goal in mind: to build a sense of community between the players and our loyal fans. It is for professionals as well as beginners, and has a focus on the favorite dishes of Arsenal FC footballers. Because our squad is composed of players from around the world, it makes sense for the recipes in this book to illustrate that diversity.
official premier league product