Once upon a time there was Robert Pires… or the story of a young talented footballer. After six seasons at Metz, he joined Marseille. The magical years began. Pires won (among other things) the World Cup in ’98 and Euro 2000. At the age of 26, he chose to join Arsenal, turning down an offer from Real Madrid. Adapting to London was not easy. After a tough seven months, the ’98 World Cup champion finally found his groove. From that point, a wonderful love story was born between Robert Pires and Arsenal. The darling of the Highbury fans, he scored 84 goals in 284 appearances, across all competitions. But fairy tales don’t always end well except in books. The story between Arsenal and the French international didn’t have the desired ending.
May 17, 2006. The time for parting had come. The Gunners were then in the Champions League final against FC Barcelona. After only 18 minutes of play, Jens Lehmann was sent off. Wenger then had no choice but to substitute a field player. His choice fell on Pires. “The biggest disappointment of my career. Wenger killed me,” the French international confided to the British press. “The final was in Paris. My whole family was there; I suffered a lot.” That day, a man’s heart was broken, thousands of fans saw their dream collapse, and Arsenal did not lift the UEFA cup. “I’m really sorry to have replaced him,” Wenger apologizes today. Did he make the right choice? “I admit that being a coach is difficult,” Pires reveals in L’Equipe. “But I will never think he made the right decision. I still suffer from it today. Wenger knows it and we talk about it.”
Three days later, the former Metz player announced his departure for Villarreal. His time with the Yellow Submarine got off to a rocky start, as he injured his knee in his first season, keeping him off the pitch for over six months. Since his return, he has managed to find his place in the Spanish club. At 35, he is still capable of playing at the highest level. He has even recently extended his contract with Villarreal, until 2010.
A long-awaited farewell
March 20, 2008: the Champions League quarter-final draw. Villarreal will face… Arsenal. Pires’ heart beats abnormally fast. Excitement and nostalgia intertwine. The draw overwhelms him: “I was very happy but it was a very emotional announcement for me. And then, my goal was to face the Gunners before retiring.” Football has its magical side. It sometimes offers an unexpected gift: a rematch… but especially a farewell. Some stories never die. Fans will always remember this humble man, who marked the history of the club with his football, but also with his values. “Anyone who loves Arsenal loves Robert Pires,” Wenger confides. And for the former international, Arsenal will forever be in his heart. It’s impossible to forget this team that gave him so much. And despite the pain of being ousted from a much-anticipated final, Pires does not forget the great years spent in London: “I have always maintained a fantastic relationship with the Arsenal fans. These matches will be an opportunity for me to say goodbye. I suffered from not being able to do it at the time. I wanted to thank the Highbury public for their support.”
And how to forget… Pires spent six years at Arsenal, during which he won two Premier League titles (2002, 2004) and three FA Cups (2002, 2003, 2005). According to Wenger, at that time “he was the best player in the world in his position.” Named Player of the Year in 2002 by the English press, he was one of the symbols of the 2004 Invincibles. “Arsène made me play. I gained his trust more and more and I established myself as an important part of the team. I learned a lot by training alongside Arsène. I owe him everything. But I never needed to tell him: he knows it.” Two and a half years after leaving the Gunners’ jersey, Robert Pires is going to face his heart club. But he is not playing for show. He wants to qualify Villarreal for the semi-final against Manchester United or Porto. Arsenal had better beware! “Arsene knows, I have only one desire, and that’s to beat him,” Pires jokes. But the man from Reims has always been respectful, both of his audience and his past coaches. “If I have the chance to score, I know I won’t celebrate my goal, simply out of respect for a club and fans who have meant so much in my career.” Simply classy.
