A few years ago it would be unforgivable for a Manchester United defender to admit he had grown up as an Arsenal fan. Thankfully for Chris Smalling, who was 15-years-old when Arsene Wenger’s men last won a trophy, the rivalry between the two clubs has almost disappeared thanks to a lack of competition between them. Both teams began a transnational period in 2005 but only Manchester United have emerged on the other side as a successful team, whilst Arsenal have failed to recreate the success of Wenger’s early years.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Smalling has spoken about the winning mentality that is ingrained at United, as well as his Arsenal supporting past.
“I was a fan,” he replied, when asked of his early support for Arsenal. “Tony Adams was a true leader. Him and Martin Keown’s relationship was very good at the heart of that defence. I liked Thierry Henry. I watched Arsenal so much on TV. I did get the chance to go to Highbury and the Emirates when it first opened.”
In the past week, Roberto Mancini claimed that Manchester United were “lucky” to be 12 points clear at the top of the table, but Smalling suggests that it is the winning mentality at the club that they have to thank for their advantage.
“At this club it’s always drilled in to me: ‘Make sure you’re a winner, go about off the pitch like you’re a winner,’” he said. “It helps when you have players like Giggsy and Rio who’ve won a lot. You see them side-by-side with you and that really drives you on. It doesn’t matter whether it’s the 93rd minute, Giggsy is making his jinky, mazy little runs. You could forgive him for maybe not coming out training every day, because he’s done so much in the game, but every day he’s out there. He doesn’t seem to need a rest. He’s not one of the noisiest ones in the dressing room but as we come in from the warm-up, he goes round, talks to everybody, gives them little information or says ‘good luck’. He’s very mellow. If one of the young lads might be nervous, it’s nice to see someone not getting too pumped up. When you see Ryan like that it chills you out.”
Smalling says he was an Arsenal supporter,I believe he still is,once you support a team there is no going back ,because Man Utd pay his wages it don’t mean he supports the team he plays for , I bet he still looks out for their results , it’s all about success if Arsenal were a little more successful all the players that decline Arsenal would be crawling to the Emirates ,we need to step up and be respected again ,the only way that will happen is for the team to be successful,we can’t keep going the way we are we need to have teams fearing us again ,
Just ask OLE 20 LEGEND SOLSKJAER A LOOSERFOOL FAN. Totally converted into the UNITED Philosophy…..
Both teams had a transitional period – but one of those teams spent over £200m since 2005. Whilst the other team remains the only team NOT to have bought the title.
Every year a team wins a title, a cup, or a european trophy. Every year…
But only ONE team has been Invincible!
49 games unbeaten – defeated only by a Rooney dive.
Greatest achievement by any English club. EVER!
Billions spent by United, City & Chelsea will NEVER beat that.
Lee – Winning the European Cup, Premier League and FA Cup all in one season is obviously a bigger achievement than not losing, you silly sod.
Especially since its also more common in Europe than the treble. Juventus just completed an undefeated season last year. The continental treble has only ever been achieved 6 times!
Silly sod
So you say that the rare treble has only been achieved 6 times but then only give 2 examples of an Invincible season: Arsenal and Juve. So which is rarer?
What arsenal and utd achieved nearly 10 and 15 years ago is irrelevant. utd are still a force running away with the league and still fighting in europe and the fa cup. arsenal were beaten by bradford in the league cup, will be knocked out of europe certainly in what could be their last game in the cl for a while. one team has the greatest manager to ever manage an english club and the other has a man whos own stubborn belief in a recruitment system which is horribly flawed has left him a bit of a laughing stock these days. live in the glory days if you want, well march ahead to title no 20 and beyond
The long and short of it. Manchester united was a bigger team in 2005 than arsenal
They are a bigger team than you now by a long shot.
Only eenglis team to do the treble.
Arsenal have not even won the champions league yet nor will they ever, now you can turn around and say that aint important but the comments made by wenga about how just finishing in the top 4 is like winning a trophy in it self. Lol thay just shows you how little faith he puts in the team that he has so cheapley put together. The only players you have had of any quality since the invicebles have jumped ship already with the exception wiltdhire, who will next season.
I see van persie linking back up with wiltshire next season. BITTER CAN BE THE ONLY EXPLANATION.
Learn to spell, you cretinous moron.
Define “bought the title”. Does that mean Henry, Pires, Reyes and Bergkamp came through the Arsenal youth system? United have continued to “speculate to accumulate” and the titles and European cup in that time shows that have been successful in doing so whilst still spending considerably less than their earnings. But don’t let that make you bitter because your board have been too busy feuding for power to remember to improve the team.
An unbeating record that leads to a trophyless future.
You people realise you didnt win the treble Manchester utd did, your just fans, you have very little control in the outcome of seasons so stop going on like its a personal victory and this makes you better than another fan becoz im sure if you stopped following them they wouldnt even notice
its possible.I was a die-hard arsenal supporter but I opted for Tottenham hotspur fc last season.I might have no team in future…so yeah,it happens.
“i use to be an Arsenal fan” shudn’t cause a fight….Arsenal is a big club no mata wot pple say, dat man u may hav achieved more, doesn’t cancel d fact dat Arsenal is a big…..smalling is a man u player dat once supported arsenal, has given his reasons for doing so. Wots d fighting….if u tink man u is beta dan arsenal, den der are oda teams dat ar beta dan man u…dats d way it goes. If u don’t see anytin gud in Arsenal, well d glazers does hence dey bought rvp.
Jesus man, thats not how its supposed to work. you dont juat jump ship when times get hard. as a utd fan ive been blessed to be around during the moat successful years for our club. will not last forever, but no matter how far things fall i will alway be a red! Disgraceful
Mvula, ur a real cunt!!!!
From arsenal to spurs??? What a loss for ur parents!!! CUNT!!!
You say united spent 200 mil since 2005
But how much have we got back from selling
Players. Fergie is the reason why united keep
Winning and that’s a fact ggmu