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You might struggle to tell Robert Pires after his penalty miss in Sunday's
Community Shield, but the yellow shirt has always been lucky for Arsenal.
The Gunners may not have given the new away kit the christening they
would have wanted with their penalty defeat to Manchester United, but you
only need to ask Arsenal-legend Charlie George to find out what the shirt
means to the club.
The local-lad-come-good might not have enjoyed much luck in his time at
Highbury but he will never forget scoring a 20-yard goal in extra-time
against Liverpool to secure the Double in 1971 - dressed in yellow.
"Obviously it's great to go back to yellow," George told Ham&High Sport.
"We've obviously had some great results wearing the yellow, and it's
obviously special for me because of what happened in 1971.
"I think if we don't play in red and white I think we should play in yellow -
I think the supporters would say that as well."
As an Islington man through and through, he knows exactly what the fans
think. He was brought up in the borough and still watches the club home
and away. He has never forgotten his affinity for the club.
As he puts it: "I was born and bred here, I watched them on the terraces
before I jumped over the terraces and played for them."
But for all that, his career never quite did justice to his talent. There were
tales of problems with the great disciplinarian Bertie Mee and a number of
injuries before leaving the club at only 24. Although he earned an England
cap afterwards, it was a poor return for a player rated as as gifted as any.
But he still holds his place in history, and having played for one of the great
Arsenal sides you might expect George to resent the suggestion that the
current lot are the best of all, but he sounds like any other fan.
"The majority of the players we have had over the last five years would
have been great to play with," he said. "There's so much quality - there's
speed, players that can tackle and win the ball. You can go on and on."
So he doesn't buy into the suggestion that the lack of activity in the transfer
market could mean a year of strife for his beloved club?
"We've got a couple of acquisitions including the big German goalkeeper,"
he said.
"And what can you say about the manager? He signs players you've never
heard of. No-one had heard of Patrick Vieira but he's one of the best players
in the world. He's synonymous with Arsenal.
"Go along with the manager - he knows the game inside out."
With all the transfer talk it is easy to forget that Arsenal have won the FA
Cup twice in a row.
And if George has his way they'll be doing it all again at the Millennium
Stadium in May - only this time it could all be done in yellow.
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Charlie George factfile
Born: Islington, October 10 1950
Arsenal appearances: 179
Goals: 49
Position: forward
Debut: Arsenal 0, Everton 1 1969
Honours: European Fairs Cup 1970; League Championship 1970; FA Cup 1971
England caps: 1
Other clubs: Derby County, Southampton, Nottingham Forest, Bulova (in
Hong Kong), Bournemouth
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http://pub60.ezboard.com/bfootball7 by Pires的愛妾
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