Paul Merson, winger, 1998-2002
We started the season with a club-record run of 12 games unbeaten. We won 4-1 at Southampton and John Gregory wanted the whole team to have a picture in front of the away fans because it was a record. I wouldn’t do it. He was going: “You’ve got to do it, we’ll all be in it together.” I’m right at the back, I wouldn’t get in the picture. I don’t even think I stood up – I might have bent down and done my laces up. He said: “We’re a team, you’re coming.” I just thought: “No, other teams will be watching this thinking they’ve won the league already.” I knew how long was left in the season and was fortunate enough to know what it takes to win a league title, having done it twice with Arsenal, and it was too early.
