Troy Deeney has written in his autobiography, via The Sun, that Arsenal have proven his point about Arsene Wenger’s sides lacking cojones in the volume of player turnover since.
The Birmingham striker controversially claimed the Gunners did not have the same fight as his Watford side in October 2017. Deeney converted a penalty to complete a turnaround to win 2-1, after trailing the north Londoners 1-0 at Vicarage Road.
Wenger felt hard done-by by the penalty decision, which Deeney vigorously disagreed with. Instead suggesting Arsenal were too soft and unable to deal with a physically imposing side like his Watford. A view he believes the Gunners have since proven to be correct.
Have Arsenal proven Deeney right since Wenger exit?
Deeney feels Arsenal proved his point regarding a lack of fight under Wenger in the volume of player turnover since. Of the 14 who featured at Vicarage Road four-years ago, only five are still at the Emirates Stadium. A sixth in Hector Bellerin is currently shipped out on loan.
“Whenever I play against Arsenal, I’ll go up and think: ‘Let me whack the first one and see who wants it’,” Deeney said. “What I said [about having a bit of cojones] touched a nerve, I don’t regret any of it.
“Ten seconds before we scored the second goal, the ball goes up to Mesut Ozil and he bottles it because he thinks he’s going to get smashed. Ozil is a fantastic footballer, he is technically gifted, and his touch is sweet. But, in that moment, he thought he was going to get hit from behind. So, in that instance, they wimped out.
Deeney added: “I think I have been proved right, because there are not many people who played in that game for Arsenal who are still at the club. Certainly not in the first-team.”
Who is still at the Emirates?
Only Alexandre Lacazette, Sead Kolasinac, Granit Xhaka, Mohamed Elneny and Rob Holding are still at Arsenal of those who featured in defeat to Deeney’s Watford in October 2017. The Gunners were also open to selling all five of those players at points this summer.
Per The Sun, Arsenal wanted £15m for Lacazette, while The Times reported Ben White’s arrival raised doubt over Holding’s future. Takvim, meanwhile, reported Elneny agreed personal terms with Galatasaray. But the clubs could not agree a fee, per football.london.
Xhaka also agreed to personal terms with Roma, per football.london. But he ultimately stayed and signed a new four-year contract with Arsenal. While Kolasinac agreed to join Fenerbahce, but the Gunners’ price was too high, per Sporx.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
