Arsenal manager says marquee players will help popularise football in India.Legendary Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has given a ringing endorsement to the Hero Indian Super League (ISL), saying he is convinced that the league will be a huge success. Wenger’s former Arsenal players Robert Pirès, Freddie Ljungberg, Nicolas Anelka, André Santos, Mikael Silvestre and Jermaine Pennant are playing for various teams in the ISL.In an interview with the Arsenal Magazine, Wenger said the presence of star players such as his former Arsenal charges would be a massive boost for the league. “They give a good image of the game,” the Frenchman asserted. “They can make football popular on different continents and different countries, where it’s taking off. I think it’s fantastic.”Wenger brushed aside concerns regarding the age of the high-profile international players, emphasising that football quality does not go away with age. “Your age doesn’t matter. Play with passion, with your heart and technical quality – that will be enough!”When Pirès was announced as FC Goa’s marquee player, he had revealed that Wenger had played a crucial role in his decision, saying his former manager had given him the confidence that he could still play at a high level. And Wenger was quick to heap praise on his fellow Frenchman, having observed him at close quarters not only during Pirès’ Arsenal days but more recently as well, as the winger has trained with the gunners in order to maintain his fitness.“I encourage players to play as long as possible, if they really love it,” Wenger explained. “Pirès is 40, but he still plays and when he comes to training here, he’s still very good.”"If you look at the history of football, it has always become quicker."Arsène WengerThe love for football is something Wenger singled out as a reason for players to keep playing the game for as long as they can. "It is a drug, like I said before. Ljungberg, Silvestre, Anelka and Pires – these people love football and some of them train here every day at the age of 40 because they love the game.”Although Wenger has been at Arsenal for 18 years, he has seen the popularity of football in different places across the world. The former Monaco manager, who has also had a managerial spell in Japan’s J-League, is certain that the inherent love for the beautiful game will help the league become popular in India as well.“If you look at the history of football, it has always become quicker (popular) and it looks like it grows everywhere,” the Arsenal manager enthused.Wenger said the love for cricket in India would not pose a problem for football and the ISL. He cited the example of the USA, where football has gradually grown in popularity through the performance of the national team, the proliferation of youth leagues and the rising support for Major League Soccer (MLS). “It took a while in the United States but it's now very popular. It faces cricket in India but there's always room for a second sport.”The Arsenal manager signed off by reasserting his faith that Indian fans, many of whom are keen followers of European football, will throw their support behind the ISL. “I know that the people there watch the Premier League and I'm convinced that with such a huge population, it will take off!”All quotes taken from Arsène Wenger’s two interviews with the official Arsenal website in October and November.
