‘Arsene Wenger said no drinking after FA Cup win – then we’re downing tequila’

Ray Parlour revealed Arsene Wenger instructed him to not drink after Arsenal’s 2002 FA Cup triumph – however he was “stumbling out of a restaurant” the identical day.

Arsenal’s double-winning marketing campaign of 2001/02 has gone down as top-of-the-line within the membership’s historical past, with Parlour on the centre of the 2 crowning moments. The ‘Romford Pele’ scored the opening purpose of the 2-0 cup remaining win in opposition to Chelsea earlier than being named Man of the Match within the 1-0 win at Old Trafford in opposition to Manchester United simply days later to win the Premier League.

Holding a popularity as somebody who enjoys the odd drink, Parlour recalled on talkSPORT how Wenger stored an eagle eye on him within the days following the cup remaining earlier than the journey to Old Trafford. Parlour recalled the legendary French boss didn’t fiddle together with his stark warning.

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Speaking in regards to the aftermath of the FA Cup remaining, Parlour stated: “This was on the Millennium Stadium, so on the way in which dwelling you’re buzzing, you’ll be able to’t imagine you’ve simply scored in an FA Cup remaining. So, I’m on the aircraft coming dwelling and a stewardess walks previous me and I stated: ‘Can I have a beer please?’ Simple, bottle of beer.

“So, she’s about to offer me this beer, ‘well done today’ (she says), ‘Oh, thanks over a lot’. Just about to drink this beer and Arsene Wenger seems at me (and says): ‘No drinking. Big game, Wednesday, Old Trafford, to win the double.’ I stated: ‘Boss, it’s solely Saturday, I’ll be wonderful by Wednesday, I’m solely going to have a few beers.’ (Wenger replied:) ‘No drinking, that’s it!’

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“So, I slip off to the again of the aircraft, my household’s on the again and one in all my brothers, I stated: ‘Jim, give us one of your beers.’ I’m nearly to drink this beer, Arsene Wenger’s walked all the way in which down the aircraft, in entrance of all of the households, (he stated) ‘If I see you drinking once more, two weeks wages fine.’ And I used to be like ‘Woah, don’t really need that beer, Jim. You have it again.’

Parlour’s night time quickly obtained out of hand when he took a woman on a date, he continued: “I haven’t instructed the restaurant I can’t drink, they’re all Arsenal followers in there. So I’ve turned up at my desk, and on my desk, what was on there? A bottle of champagne from the restaurant. Saying ‘well done, you scored in the cup final.’

“So I look at this young lady and I say: ‘Shall we have a drink or not?’ I said, ‘Come on, we’ll have a couple, it won’t get out of hand.’ Next minute, you get the taste and then we have another bottle, next minute we’re on sambucas, tequila slammers and I can’t even stand up. I’m stumbling out of this restaurant, trip over tables and whatever.”

Parlour’s week quickly turned heavier and higher. The following day he ended up consuming “eight pints” together with his mates earlier than the sport at Old Trafford. He continued to recall the sport in opposition to United, by which he was awarded Man of the Match.

Parlour stated: “I am going into the dressing room space after my interview stuffed with myself, ‘Well done lads, brilliant! We can go out tonight, have a right good time’, hastily, Arsene Wenger seems at me: ‘I want a word with you.’

“So I am going, ‘Oh no, the restaurant I fell over three tables, someone’s written a letter in. I’m going to get fined two weeks’ wages’. He takes me around the again the place nobody is and he seems at me and says: ‘You were fantastic tonight, absolutely different class. Do you know what it was?’ I stated ‘no boss’, he went: ‘I stopped you drinking that beer on the plane.’ So he ain’t that good is he!”