‘Little prankster’ Marc Overmars’ fart machine at Arsenal had Arsene Wenger speechless

On Feb 25, 2023

Arsene Wenger’s calm and patient approach to management at Arsenal has repeatedly been praised down the years.

Le Professeur’s arrival in 1996 marked a sea change for the Gunners, both in their style of football on the pitch and the players’ behaviour off it. The squad instantly bought into his then-innovative methods, even if it meant ending the boozy ‘Tuesday Club’ culture – which legendary midfielder Ray Parlour knew all too well.

The Frenchman’s presence commanded respect and so he very rarely needed to raise his voice. But that, on occasion, resulted in some less dignified antics from his players.

Dutch winger Overmars was signed by Wenger in 1997 and left for Barcelona three years later. But under any other manager, that spell could have been cut considerably shorter after a daring farting prank, according to his ex-teammate Parlour.

Speaking on behalf of AceOdds, Parlour exclusively told Daily Star Sport: “I remember, believe it or not, little Marc Overmars had a fart machine in his pocket in one of the team meetings and he kept pushing the button.

“All you heard was [fart noises] and it was like ‘what’s going on?’

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Arsene Wenger didn’t punish his players for the disruption
(Image: Getty Images)

Marc Overmars [R] was signed in 1997
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Miraculously, the manager’s patience saw him brush off the indiscipline, with Parlour adding: “Wenger said nothing in the end. Little Marc Overmars was a little prankster.”

It was a step too far for even Parlour, however, who once famously duped the Gunners boss into thinking new arrival Igors Stepanovs was a great player, having constantly praised him in an attempt to rile up teammate Martin Keown.

Keown, who was always cautious of having his place in the side taken by an incoming centre-back, was left fuming as the woeful Stepanovs was signed on a four-year-deal.

Ray Parlour loved a laugh and a joke at Arsenal
(Image: Getty Images)

“I don’t think I had the bottle to do that. I mean, if it was George Graham, you wouldn’t do that to George,” Parlour said on Overmars’ antics. “I think Arsene Wenger was always a little bit more relaxed.

“I was always respectful to my managers. You can have a laugh with your teammates, but with managers, you’ve got to be careful.

“If you get on the wrong side of them, they won’t play you. Simple as that.”