Wenger: Dowie a contender for manager of the year
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes Iain Dowie will be a contender for the manager of the season award if he guides Crystal Palace to safety.
Wenger also declared ahead of tonight’s game against Palace at Highbury that striker Andrew Johnson has done enough to earn a move to a “big club”.
While there appears little doubt Jose Mourinho will actually claim win the manager of the season award if, as expected, Chelsea win the title, the Arsenal boss has been hugely impressed with Dowie’s achievements.
Wenger declared: “For me, he has made miracles. Firstly, to get them up last year. Who would have bet that Crystal Palace would come up? “Then he has them in the situation where they can still stay in the Premier League.”
Wenger joked: “Let’s wait until the season is over, but if I win the Premier League, I will give him the title of manager of the year award, I promise you that! I will vote for him with both hands.
“I knew him as a player when he was at West Ham and then I saw him when he took the reserve team at West Ham. He is a positive character and that is much needed in this job.
“There is a young generation coming out from him to Steve McClaren, which gives British sides a few options for the future. Then maybe you might need less foreign people.”
Under the leadership of Dowie, a former Northern Ireland international, Palace stand two points clear of the relegation zone and even held Arsenal to a draw at Selhurst Park earlier this season.
“We struggled highly at their place. That was one of the low points in our performances this season,” admitted Wenger.
Johnson, who made his England debut last week against Holland, did not score in that game, but has hit the net 16 times so far this season in all competitions.
“I have been impressed with Andy Johnson because he has scored 16 goals at Crystal Palace and not many strikers would do that,” added Wenger.
“The service you get is not the same as at the big clubs. So you have to do the maximum from what you get and you have to earn a lot yourself. His achievement is fantastic with just one restriction.
“You must see how a player adapts to a situation where he plays in a big club with different pressure and with more people around him. But what he has done until now deserves a place at a big club.”
Arsenal’s defence, which is still missing Sol Campbell through injury, will therefore need to be at its sharpest tonight, with Kolo Toure back after a three-match ban.
Jens Lehmann has also recovered his goalkeeping spot after finally displacing Manuel Almunia and Wenger praised the Germany international’s professionalism over the past couple of months.
Lehmann may have been prone to some outspoken public comments, but Wenger insisted: “I was very happy because Jens is a big professional and you see the real character of a player when you drop him.
“He has shown that during the whole period. For not one second in training has he lacked concentration. He has worked even harder and been even more focused. I think he has gained respect in the squad.
“He is a good example to young players as it is a good attitude to copy when you are not in the side. It was hard to drop Almunia but you do what you feel is needed.”
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