Peter Reid reckons Arsene Wenger has got cojones all right – and they are made of steel.
The Everton legend hopes that his beloved Toffees will hit Wenger’s Gunners where it hurts today and give Ronald Koeman some much-needed relief of his own at Goodison Park.
But he doesn’t agree with Troy Deeney’s assessment after Arsenal’s defeat at Watford last weekend that Wenger and his men don’t have what it takes for a fight.
“If Arsene Wenger wasn’t so tough, he would have walked away from Arsenal a long time ago,” said Reid.
“After what he’s achieved at the club – not just in terms of winning trophies, but also delivering success at a time when a new stadium and new training ground had to be financed – he could have left at the first sign of trouble.
“And those same fans who are now giving him so much grief would have been demanding that the club put up a statue in his honour.
"But the one thing that distinguishes the very best from the rest is that they don’t quit when things take a turn for the worst.
“I understand Arsenal fans’ frustration at the failure to win the title for so long.
“But clubs like Chelsea and Manchester City have changed the landscape of the game because they have owners who are prepared to spend whatever it takes. And Manchester United have gone three years without the title - despite investing a lot of money in the team since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
“But Arsene has stuck with the philosophy that made him the manager he is – and, for me, that’s a sign of strength rather than weakness.”