The induction of John Thomson into Scottish Football�s Hall of Fame at the weekend had an added poignancy for Bob Wilson.
The induction of John Thomson into Scottish Football's Hall of Fame at the weekend had an added poignancy for Bob Wilson. The former Arsenal goalkeeper built his reputation on executing the same maneouvre that cost the Celtic goalkeeper his life.
Thomson died aged 22 after an accidental collision with Rangers' Sam English left him with a fractured skull and ruptured artery in an Old Firm match in 1931. Like the legendary Celtic goalkeeper, Wilson prided himself on being able to nick the ball off advancing players' toes.
"Pat Jennings was one of my heroes and he was great at diving at players' feet," said Wilson.
"He loved doing that. John Thomson died diving at a player's feet. Bert Trautmann broke his neck. I developed that ability over the years, but now I would be suspended for half the season. Players now tap the ball away and leave their legs in."
Wilson made more than 300 appearances for Arsenal between 1963 and 1974 and later became goalkeeping coach until his retiral in 2003. He is in a perfect position to assess the ways in which the art of goalkeeping has changed.
"Now, it is about keeping the ball out of the net by hook or by crook," he said. "Peter Schmeichel's star jump was evidence of that. Our pride back then was to catch, catch, catch. I used to be the tallest goalkeeper in the first division at 6ft 1in. Joe Corrigan came along and he was 6ft 4in. He was considered a monster. Now, I think anyone who wants to be a top-class goalkeeper has to be at least 6ft 3in.
"The movement in the ball these days is also extraordinary and not just from the Beckham-type benders. Goalkeepers have a second to decide whether to catch it or parry it."
Wilson believes Craig Gordon, the current Scotland No.1, has all the requisite qualities to be a top-class goalkeeper. "The first time I watched Craig play, I liked the presence that he had. Nothing seems to ruffle him. He has that size and has a tremendous stretch," said Wilson, who won two caps for Scotland.
During Wilson's 28-year spell as goalkeeping coach at Arsenal, he worked with Jennings, John Lukic and David Seaman. By the time he retired, he had played a part in three double-winning sides - 1997-98 and 2001-02 and 02-03. He gained a unique insight into the Arsene Wenger revolution.
"When Pat Rice first introduced me to Wenger, we took him around the training ground and he said is this Arsenal?' "He could not believe the facilities. The training ground was basic. There was no manager's room, just a shed. From the moment he walked in, he went straight back to the directors and so started his French revolution.
"The food changed and he insisted on lots of carbohydrates. The players had to sip two litres of still water a day, four on matchdays. He set down the blueprint for the new training ground and that set the standard for everything else that happened at the club. Every other club at the top level have now taken on board what Arsene did. Full credit to the directors, who backed him all the way."
Wilson's reflections on Wenger are included in his new book, Life In The Beautiful Game, the proceeds of which will go to The Willow Foundation, a charity established in 1999 by Wilson and his wife in memory of their daughter, Anna, who died of cancer. In it, he also writes warmly of Sir Alex Ferguson, Wenger's old adversary, who has backed the charity and offered words of support to the Wilson family over the years.
Wilson, 67, has been the man in the middle once or twice during Wenger and Ferguson's squabbles. He said: "A lot has been made about his fallouts with Sir Alex Ferguson, but at the start, before games, Alex would come out and say is Arsene around? I'd like to speak to him'.
When it became very competitive and incredibly intense, certain things happened, like after the game that ended Arsenal's 49-game unbeaten run in October 2004. They fell out, but they have got back together again. I was with Alex at a charity function recently and he said Arsene knows exactly when to sell a player'."
Wilson added: "Arsene feels that those who are paying £70 for a seat deserve to be entertained. That is what we saw against Manchester United in Arsenal's 2-1 win earlier this month. It could have been 6-6. Alex now appreciates that Arsene is about the fans, about Arsenal FC and about entertainment."
However, Wilson is unsure if the resourcefulness and coaching expertise of Wenger can continue to stand up to the financial might of other clubs. He asked: "Could a young Arsenal side really top the financial clout of United or the bottomless pit of the Abramovich purse?
"Arsene made Mathieu Flamini into this great midfield digger who complemented Cesc Fabregas perfectly. But then AC Milan come in and offer him double his salary and he leaves.
"Arsene still has this amazing network of people around the world who bring people to his attention, but the financial aspect of modern football concerns me."
- Life In The Beautiful Game, by Bob Wilson, is out now.
