One Of Arsenal's Greatest Unsung Heroes - Keown's Tribute To Manninger

We had to get typical exception for Alex to get a Premier League winners badge successful 1998. Back then, you needed 10 appearances to get 1 - he had only made seven.

Everyone astatine nan nine thought he afloat deserved it, though, and nan Arsenal fans took to Alex too, because of really brilliantly he played.

They had a opus for him, astir to nan tune of nan nursery rhyme Three Blind Mice.

Alex Manninger, Alex Manninger

Got a sore finger, sewage a sore finger

Loves Arsene Wenger, loves Arsene Wenger

We would singing it to him too, whenever he came into nan room. He loved it. Alex was a awkward feline initially, but that changed erstwhile he was portion of nan group.

You ever get to cognize immoderate players amended than others astatine immoderate nine you are at, but location was a existent togetherness successful our squad astatine nan time. Everyone would operation together.

I roomed pinch Stephen Hughes that play but Matt Upson and Alex would travel to our room to play PlayStation games erstwhile we were successful hotels for distant matches. I was a fewer years older, truthful they kept maine young really.

Alex's characteristic was rather a opposition connected and disconnected nan transportation - connected it, he was fiercely competitive. He ever trained incredibly difficult and he was very driven.

He could sometimes beryllium very captious of himself if he made a mistake, but it was very clear he conscionable did not want to beryllium beaten. As a elder player, I loved that mentality.

Off nan pitch, he was a immense characteristic too. Someone who was awesome nosy to beryllium astir but besides very calm - unless he was playing connected nan PlayStation.

Looking astatine photos of him now reminds maine of really he was, and of those days, but it is thing much than that. When I deliberation of Alex, I tin still image nan relationship we had successful my mind's eye.

He near Arsenal successful 2002 and I had not seen him for a number of years earlier he passed away, but whenever you triumph things together, for illustration we did - we went done immoderate really large nights together - past location is simply a enslaved location that keeps you together forever.

That 1997-98 play was nan first successful my profession wherever I tasted existent occurrence - it was my first convention title, and first FA Cup - and I will ne'er hide he played a awesome portion successful that.