Wenger can understand Best addiction

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who eradicated the drinking culture that existed at Highbury when he arrived in 1996, admitted he could understand the addiction George Best battled.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who eradicated the drinking culture that existed at Highbury when he arrived in 1996, admitted he could understand the addictions George Best battled against.

“Firstly, it was part of the culture of the game at that time. Also I feel we are not all equal in front of addiction,” he said.

“When some get hooked, they can’t get off any more. Even after his surgery, to think of drinking again, you must really be addicted. But in the end, no matter what he did, people always forgave him because of his special charisma.

“It was the same for Diego Maradona. Players like that get more publicity than those like Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp, who behave completely anonymously.

“But he was so used to getting out of tricky situations you are in shock now he has died. You expected him to get out of it again.”