Arsene Wenger brought a revolution to English football when he took the Arsenal job.
The footballing culture in the country hadn't exactly been built around sports science up to that point. Nutrition was not a focus for players, while their drinking exploits were also the stuff of legends.
Wenger completely switched that mindset. The changes he brought to the club are well documented, requiring players to eat properly and look after their bodies in the right way.
Some of that involved simple changes such as consuming healthier food, although there were also some more bizarre recommendations made to the squad.
Ray Parlour recalls strange Arsene Wenger medical request
While many of Wengers suggestions were straightforward, one of them in particular was a little bit out there.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Ray Parlour revealed that Arsenal players were advised to get their wisdom teeth removed in order to reduce niggly injuries. Amazingly, he felt that it actually worked.
“A lot of us had our wisdom teeth out!” 🦷
“After I did, I didn’t get niggling injuries. They put bad blood into your body.” 🤯
🇫🇷 Ray Parlour reveals Wenger had #AFC players’ wisdom teeth out, to stop injuries! pic.twitter.com/I2WU7YjCB3— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 17, 2023
A French guy came over, and obviously Arsene Wenger knew him very well, we spent 35 minutes with him and he was pushing pressure points in your body. It was amazing, you came out like a different person.
If you had your wisdom teeth, and you might laugh at this, but you know when they start playing up a little bit, that used to put bad blood into your body and you would get little niggles.
A lot of the players had their wisdom teeth. I promise you now that it really affected your body...
I had mine out. I had been missing training sessions and feeling sore, but after I had my wisdom teeth out (he felt better).
Freddie Ljunberg had them out, I had them out. After that, I didn't have those niggles. I promise you now, it really helped me out. I was training every day.
We're not sure on the science behind this one, although Parlour seems convinced that it had some effect.
Arsene Wenger certainly left no stone unturned in getting the best out of his players.
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