Wenger would welcome Hoddle return

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would welcome Glenn Hoddle back into management with open arms if he returns to Southampton.

Wenger’s Arsenal side overcame Southampton 2-0 last night at Highbury, with Thierry Henry scoring his 100th and then 101st Premiership goals, albeit amid controversy on both occasions.

With Henry potentially offside for his first goal, Southampton’s current boss Gordon Strachan claimed his side had “suffered” because of his own “history” with linesman Mike Tingey.

Strachan was, however, not answering questions about his own future amid reports that Hoddle is being lined up as the Scot’s successor.

Strachan will take a sabbatical from the game at the end of this season, but the revelation sparked chairman Rupert Lowe into considering more immediate options.

One of those is giving Hoddle a second chance to prove himself at the club he left in such haste to return to Tottenham – before he was subsequently sacked earlier this season.

Wenger, who coached Hoddle at Monaco, said: “Of course, I would be happy to see him back in the game.

“Has he shown his best as a manager yet? I think that, in spells in his career, yes.

“But we’re all a bit the same, we need time and luck in our job. When he went to Tottenham, maybe he didn’t have the needed time to sort things out.”

Strachan, who stressed he would only speak about the game, was rather more immediately concerned with the way his side failed to gain a point from such a determined display at Highbury.

The Scot, who admitted he felt “some injustice”, added: “You’ve got to understand that there’s plenty of history between myself and Mr Tingey.

“Five years ago, I got sent off and he accused me of starting a fight as he had seen it clearly.

“But I took a lawyer to the Football Association hearing and there was camera footage that showed I didn’t start the fight and it was impossible for him to see me. They got me instead for getting out of my technical area.

“Mr Tingey was kind of embarrassed five years ago and we’ve had more history since then. My players suffered because of that history, I think. Henry was three or four yards offside.”

Strachan was also unhappy at Henry’s second goal in the final minute, although Tingey had no part in this controversy.

Instead, it was referee Neale Barry who waved play on even though Ray Parlour clashed with Danny Higginbotham before setting through Pires to cross for Henry to seal victory.

Henry still finished with aplomb on both occasions, proving why Real Madrid coach Carlos Queiroz has publicly identified him as his main summer transfer target – and why Arsenal will not sell him at any price.

Wenger angrily added: “If I want a player from Real Madrid, I would call Real Madrid first, I wouldn’t come out in the newspapers first.

“It’s unfair to his own players firstly and, secondly, it’s unfair towards Arsenal. You’d expect a bit more class.”

Class was nevertheless exactly what Henry displayed against Southampton, becoming only the 11th player to score 100 Premiership goals.

“He’s a top world-class player. Considering his age and the speed of his improvement, seeing where he began, where he is now and where he could be in two or three years, it’s absolutely phenomenal,” added Wenger.

The victory, meanwhile, moved Arsenal, at least temporarily, five points clear at the top of the table, although Manchester United play tonight.

“It’s important to keep going as even though we have gone 25 games unbeaten, if Manchester United win, then we’re still only two points ahead and that’s amazing,” said Wenger.