Renowned diver Arjen Robben has forgiven Arsene Wenger for calling him a “very good diver”.
That’s big of him.
Arsenal host Robben’s Bayern Munich in the Champions League tomorrow and the Dutch attacker gave an interview to the Daily Telegraph in which he tackles Wenger’s reaction to his own reaction to a tackle in the Champions League last-16 two seasons ago.
Just to refresh your memory, here is Santi Cazorla’s scything down of the flying Dutchman.
Wenger’s rather measured reaction to this was to say Robben was one of the greatest players of his generation and a “very good diver”.
However the former Chelsea and Real Madrid man revealed there is no hard feelings between himself and the Frenchman. Not that he in any way thinks Wenger was correct, naturally.
“I met him in Brazil. It was not a problem at all. No hard feelings. I’m quite easy that way,” said Robben.
“If they lose some managers are disappointed and not always fair and realistic. Maybe one week after, they say: ‘OK, maybe it was wrong what I said.’ But I haven’t got a problem.
“I think he’s unique. To be there for such a long time you are doing a lot of things very, very well. See the players who became better. Look at the way Arsenal has developed. In Holland or Germany, they always talk positive about Arsenal. Why? The way they play, no negative football, always positive technical football, wanting to make the game. I think that is big credit to him.”
So Wenger and Robben kissed and made up at the World Cup in Brazil last year. That’s nice. This is something else Robben got up to in Brazil on his way to the last four.
Still though, Wenger, cheek of him? Calling Robben a good diver.
The man is a great diver, possibly the best.
