ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger maintains the John Terry saga will have no bearing on tomorrow's clash with Barclays Premier League title rivals Chelsea – and believes the role of a captain is overplayed within the English game.
Terry was yesterday stripped of the England captaincy following allegations into his private life, but Wenger insists all off-field issues will have little impact when the two London heavyweights clash at Stamford Bridge tomorrow.
"I don't want go into that stuff about role models that you hear everywhere. It is quite a bit tiring," said the Arsenal manager, whose team will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's 3-1 home demolition by Manchester United.
"We do not have to interfere with Chelsea's problems. I believe Chelsea will play at their best, we expect that, and that is why we just want to focus on our own performance. We have seen last Sunday when we do not play at our best we do not win the game and that is why the key is more on our side."
Wenger added: "It (the captaincy] is overplayed, without a doubt.
"Maybe it has historical roots in battles, fighting. Traditionally in the history of England the captain certainly had a big role and a big importance.
"I like that, but team sport is linked with recent history, the 20th Century. Before that, it was all fighting, and so maybe it is linked with historical roots.
"In some other sports like rugby the captain has a bit more freedom and importance than in football.
"It is always an instant decision in a very quick time and the captain has no time to interfere with the individual decisions of the players on the pitch."
Arsenal could blow the title race wide open with a second successive victory at Stamford Bridge, which would move them to within three points of Chelsea. But, by the same token, suffer defeat and the Gunners' championship ambitions will look to be all but over once again.
"I don't want go into that stuff about role models that you hear everywhere. It is quite a bit tiring," said the Arsenal manager, whose team will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's 3-1 home demolition by Manchester United.
"We do not have to interfere with Chelsea's problems. I believe Chelsea will play at their best, we expect that, and that is why we just want to focus on our own performance. We have seen last Sunday when we do not play at our best we do not win the game and that is why the key is more on our side."
Wenger added: "It (the captaincy] is overplayed, without a doubt.
"Maybe it has historical roots in battles, fighting. Traditionally in the history of England the captain certainly had a big role and a big importance.
"I like that, but team sport is linked with recent history, the 20th Century. Before that, it was all fighting, and so maybe it is linked with historical roots.
"In some other sports like rugby the captain has a bit more freedom and importance than in football.
"It is always an instant decision in a very quick time and the captain has no time to interfere with the individual decisions of the players on the pitch."
Arsenal could blow the title race wide open with a second successive victory at Stamford Bridge, which would move them to within three points of Chelsea. But, by the same token, suffer defeat and the Gunners' championship ambitions will look to be all but over once again.