The story as Ray Parlour tells it: Martin Keown was always the easiest player in their squad to wind up, spent loads of time worrying about getting replaced. One day the guy from some parcel firm arrived at Arsenal's training ground for a collection, he was about 6ft 7in tall, athletic, strong, looked the part, but the goods weren't ready for collection, so he was told to go and get something to eat from the canteen, anything he wanted, on the club, whilst they sorted it. Parlour, Merson, Adams, Henry were all present at the time and decided to wind Keown up when he arrived shortly afterwards. The parcel guy was sat there and Keown was informed that this bloke was a centre half from bayern Munich and had come for a medical. Keown wasn't known for his sense of humour and stormed off to find Wenger, who was oblivious to all this and Keown knew that he'd been set up. As Parlour says it was just too easy with Keown, this leads to Stepanovs.
the story goes that Arsenal were on tour somewhere when they came across Stepanovs.
Bergkamp, Henry, Parlour, Merson, Ljungberg were all sat on the bench watching the Latvian warming up for their opponents. They were all of the opinion he was pretty useless, but decided to wind the ever gullible Keown up. Bergkamp commented on how difficult the Latvian was to play against, and Henry claimed he had never got the better of him. Ljungberg said what a great tackler Stepanovs was and they were all in agreement that Arsenal should definitely sign him. Keown who was on the bench with them had steam coming out his ears. Then a few weeks later in walks Stepanovs at Arsenal's training ground, who was greeted with surprise by the players, and asked what he was doing there. Stepanovs was buzzing 'I just sign three year contract, I'm so happy, great honour'.
Parlour and Bergkamp and Henry went off to see Wenger and apparently asked him 'why have you signed him, he's f*****g useless'.
Wenger looked puzzled. 'Do you remember pre-season?..... I was walking behind the dug-out when I overheard your conversation about Stepanovs. I thought wow, these lads hold this guy in such high esteem. He'd be good cover for Tony Adams.'
Stepanovs usually makes the list of the 5 worst Arsenal Players in History.
