Wenger: 'Sidwell had to leave'
Steve Sidwell might be commanding a place in Arsenal’s midfield at the moment if he had not left five years ago – but Arsene Wenger insists he had no option but to allow him to leave.
Sidwell is among the homegrown players who struggled for opportunities under Wenger but flourished elsewhere, and the midfielder has moved to Aston Villa via Reading and Chelsea.
The 26-year-old would be perfect for Arsenal at the moment as Gilberto Silva, Lassana Diarra, Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb have left this year, while Cesc Fabregas has joined Theo Walcott and Tomas Rosicky in the treatment room.
“He is a good all-round player,” Wenger said.
“He is good defending, a hard defender. He goes in the box well. He is a bit similar to Frank Lampard in his game. He is very positive.”
Wenger simply did not have room to play Sidwell while he was developing.
“I’m happy he has had a good career because we always knew he would make a career,” Wenger said.
“It was difficult to assess at what level because when he was younger he had technical problems but he has improved that side of his game and is now a very good player.
“You can only play with 11, it’s as simple as that. The 11 best play and at the time he was not within that. Even in the squad, it was difficult for him to get on the bench.
“At some stage, for his development, it was better for him to go and play somewhere. We don’t forget – if you look at players educated here at Arsenal Football Club you will see we have produced many good players in the Premier League.”
Sidwell was one of eight English players that finished the game for Villa in last week’s win at West Ham – a contrast to Wenger’s ranks of foreign youngsters.
The Frenchman said: “I’m a football manager, not a passport manager.”
Sidwell has helped Villa reach third in the Barclays Premier League.
Wenger has written off Villa’s Barclays Premier League title challenge – but admits Martin O’Neill’s men are a genuine threat to the top four.
“They are mathematically in there but if you asked me if they are going to win the title I would say no because they are other teams who to me look better equipped,” Wenger said.
“For a place in the top four, they are a threat.”
Should O’Neill do the double over Wenger when they face each other on Boxing Day, Villa will be six points ahead of Arsenal at the halfway stage of the campaign. Emmanuel Adebayor is suspended for the clash at Villa Park.
