By one estimation, Arsene Wenger was silent for eight straight minutes during his first half-time team talk as Arsenal manager.
The legendary Frenchman rarely turned to the hairdryer to elicit a reaction from his players even when they were losing. Ray Parlour remembers a match at home to Aston Villa in 2001 when Arsenal were trailing 2-0 and the assistant manager Pat Rice began unloading on the squad. Wenger came in and actually raised his voice for once, but only to say: “Shut up, Pat.” Arsenal won 3-2.
Wenger and his calming half-time disposition may have left Arsenal but the habit of…
