Former Arsenal Defender's Shocking Stadium Admission
An ex-Arsenal player has made a startling confession about his extreme preparations for one of English football's most heated fixtures. Armand Traore, who signed for the Gunners in 2005, has revealed he once took a knuckle duster to a north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, an act he now describes as profoundly "stupid".
A Fear Forged in French Football
Traore's drastic actions were born from previous experiences with intense football rivalries in his native France. Before moving to England as a teenager, the defender was a regular at Paris Saint-Germain's clashes with Marseille, where he witnessed opposing supporters "batter each other". These memories were fresh in his mind when, at just 17 years old and newly promoted to Arsenal's first team, he decided to attend the derby.
"I was convinced someone might recognise me," Traore admitted, reflecting on his fear of being identified by a Spurs fan. "I thought if a Spurs fan did, then I needed to be ready if something happened. So I had a knuckle-duster in my pocket — which was just stupid."
Police Intervention and a Lasting Lesson
The plan backfired almost immediately. As Traore entered the stadium, police discovered the weapon. The consequences were severe: he was held in custody for more than 10 hours and missed the entire match. The incident eventually reached his manager, the legendary Arsène Wenger.
Looking back, the now 36-year-old recognises the gravity of his error. "Young and naive. Can you imagine if something actually had happened? It would have been life-changing," he stated. "I was young and I have learned my lesson. It was a stupid mistake."
Despite being contracted to Arsenal for five years, Traore's time on the pitch was limited. He made only 32 appearances for the club before being sold to Queens Park Rangers, with loan spells at Portsmouth and Juventus in between.
His stint in Italy exposed him to another fierce rivalry. Recalling a trip to face Napoli, Traore described a menacing atmosphere with hundreds of fans outside the team hotel and mopeds following the team bus, crashing into parked cars. He described the scene as "madness" and a display of "proper passion".
As Arsenal prepare to host Tottenham in the latest instalment of this historic rivalry, Traore's story serves as a stark reminder of how the intense passion surrounding football can sometimes lead to perilous decisions.
