Test of Character

According to recent reports, Julio Baptista is frustrated at his lack of first team opportunities and has issued a ‘Play me or else’ ultimatum to Arsene Wenger.

We all know that football journalists get over-excited at times - but if this story is true, then hopefully Gilberto will take his fellow countryman aside and point out one or two essential truths. First, that Arsene Wenger is the manager of Arsenal Football Club and as such it is his responsibility to select the team. Second, that Arsene is on record as saying that he is convinced Baptista will make a major contribution to the team. Third, that it takes time to settle in a new country (Reyes never quite managed it) and to acquire full match fitness and sharpness.

Baptista is a terrific talent, he is desperate to play and he would be less than human if he did not find the present situation exasperating, but if he cannot learn to trust the judgement of a manager of Arsene Wenger’s calibre, then both his maturity and his future are in question.