Arsenal's "professeur" proved a pioneer among managers

Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger (C) gestures after Bacary Sagna (2nd L) was hit by a ball thrown by Tottenham Hotspur's manager Tim Sherwood (R) during their English Premier League soccer match at White Hart Lane in London, March 16, 2014. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh

LONDON (Reuters) - One of Arsene Wenger's first acts on becoming Arsenal manager in 1996 was to ban his tired players from refuelling with chocolate bars on long trips home after away matches.

It was an early sign that the earnest Frenchman swiftly nicknamed "Le Professeur" had plenty to teach seasoned professionals about how they approached the game.