Filed under: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Premier League, Football
Interrupting his own private anguish, over another failed pursuit of the Premier League title, to visit Gerard Houllier in hospital is to Arsene Wenger's eternal credit.The Arsenal manager's ability to separate professional disappointment from the real life matter of life and death is a clear indication that Wenger has a firm grip on his sense of priorities.
The fact he drove to the Birmingham hospital to be with Houllier, who is recovering from another heart scare, less than 24 hours after Bolton brought to an end Arsenal's title challenge at the Reebok Stadium, is a clear indication of the depth of friendship Wenger has for his fellow countryman.
The act may also help alter the public perception of Wenger outside the environs of the Emirates that he can be graceless, selfish, one-eyed, antagonistic and patronising towards his fellow managers.
The list of those he has fallen out with over a period of time is an impressive and long one and includes the names of Martin O'Neill, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jose Mourinho, Tony Pulis and Mark Hughes.
Wenger's disappointment at ending a sixth season without a trophy is acute and he blames himself for the fact, but that did not stop him making the call to see Houllier.
It is unclear how long Wenger spent at the bedside of his friend, but whether it was ten minutes, or two hours, one hopes that during the course of the visit he would have been the true friend Houllier needs right now.
Football almost claimed the life of Houllier ten years ago. His latest heart scare has been serious enough for the consultant, who cared for him in Liverpool when he underwent surgery in 2001, to be involved in the treatment of the 63-year-old this time around.
Wenger was in England when that happened and visited Houllier, no doubt to offer the kind of support and encouragement to help the former Lyon manager back into the technical area.
He was not alone in his support, but Wenger's counselling has to be completely different on this occasion. From a man who has lived with more pressure than Houllier for many seasons since his last trophy at the Emirates, the Arsenal manager knows how stressful the industry he excels in can be.
Houllier's family indulged him last September when he made it clear he wanted to leave the technical director's job with the French Football Association and get back on the training ground with Aston Villa.
They were concerned about the health implications and would have preferrred a "non" from Houllier when Villa asked the question.
He might not have listened to his closest family, but maybe he will listen to Wenger, who has a responsibility, as his friend, to tell him the time has come to walk away from an industry which has clearly taken its toll on his health.
Houllier's short time in charge at Villa Park has hardly been plain sailing. He has been forced to deal with squabbling players and a wealth of supporters' opinion which has been against him, in what has been a difficult return to English football.
Football may well be a drug that lures managers and coaches back like a junkie in search of his next fix - but Houllier has to go cold Turkey and quit to make sure he can receive the love of his family and friends for many years to come.
He is an articulate, intelligent man with a love of many things, but football management is too onerous for him to even contemplate returning and one hopes Wenger drives home that particular argument with all the passion he expects from his players on a football field.
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