Published: 8 December, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

ARSENE Wenger admits he “loves” Emmanuel Frimpong’s raw enthusiasm, describing him as the kind of player “you would love to go to war alongside.”

The powerfully-built 19-year-old is enjoying a breakthrough season with Arsenal, making his 12th appearance of the campaign on Tuesday when the Gunners lost 3-1 away at Olympiakcos in the Champions League.

Over-eagerness saw Frimpong sent off on his full debut against Liverpool in August, and now Wenger is determined to harness and channel the midfielder’s energy in the right way.

“I love his raw enthusiasm,” he said. “The only problem is to keep him on the right track. Like every generous guy, you don’t want to see him lose that. He’s a real fighter. You would love to go to war alongside Frimpong.

“But he also has to use his energy in a positive way because sometimes too much energy can be a handicap.

He has a good mixture of confidence, humility and energy.

He learns as well.

“So, after the heat, he accepts that he needs to think about what is wrong and right.”

Wenger has noticed that, on occasions, Frimpong has responded to shouts of “shoot” from the crowd, something he is keen to eradicate from his game.

“Football is made about what the game wants not what the fans in the stands want,” said Wenger.

“Good players always respond to the game situation and make the right decision taking all the emotional part out of it. It’s a question of experience. When you are young you think you have a strong shot and people say: ‘Come on have a go.’ You are tempted to do it even though you have a pass to make.

“At 24 you think: ‘come on, I have that pass to make’.”