Happy birthday, "Mr Arsenal"

Posted Tuesday, October 11, 2011 by ESPN

Happy birthday,

Arsene Wenger, Arsenal manager: "When I first came to Arsenal, I realised the back four were all university graduates in the art of defending. As for Tony Adams, I consider him to be a doctor of defence. He is simply outstanding."

Per Mertesacker, Arsenal defender: “We didn’t get many pictures of him on the television but Adams was a legend here,” he told Arsenal.com. “He is a special one for me.  When I was looking at English football I always looked to Arsenal and he was one of the great defenders when I was ten or 12 years old. I knew he was the centre-half for Arsenal.  I like the players [like Adams] very much."

Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United manager: "He was making his name in the Arsenal side when I arrived at United. I remember watching him when he was a teenager in a goalless draw at Old Trafford shortly after I started. I remember thinking at the time, 'Look at the size of that kid . . . 6ft 2in and he can read the game.' I've always said that about central defenders - the best ones read the game better than anyone else on the field. You'd have to include Tony among the best. I tried to sign him once, but he'd just signed a new contract at Highbury. He was an Arsenal man, though, and it would have taken something special to prise him away.

"He's come through some very challenging times in his life and anyone who does that demands respect from everyone. He's a winner, but what I like about him is he's not an ungracious player. He's had his occasional sendings off, but he seems to accept situations for what they are.It's either black or white for him and I like players like that. They're easy to understand and work with."

And... Tony Adams on Sir Alex Ferguson: "Fergie said I was a Manchester United player in the wrong shirt - I said he was an Arsenal manager in the wrong blazer."

Cesc Fabregas, former Arsenal captain: "From what people say he was amazing. I never really saw him play because I was too young but from what people say he was amazing and everybody says amazing things about him."

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