Arsenal’s craziest Invincible took the team bus for a spin at 17 and nearly put the driver through the window’
ARSENAL’S “craziest” Invincible took the team minibus for a spin at 17 years old, according to Jermaine Pennant.
Former goalkeeper Graham Stack was the joker of the pack – who almost put Arsenal’s coach driver through the windscreen during one of his moments of mayhem.
Speaking at the launch of Ladbrokes‘ “Gaffer of all Accas”, Pennant said: “Graham Stack was part of the academy team I played with at Arsenal.
“And he went on to become a part of the first-team in the Invincible season; he didn’t play but he was on the bench a lot that year.
“He was always a bit of a loose cannon, right the way through the youth team and into the first-team set-up, but he was a great guy.
“I don’t think he’s changed much over the years, by the way; I think he’s still a bit of a loose cannon now – he’s such a great character.
“Boy, you don’t want to get in his crosshairs… he’s crazy!
“I’d love to tell you some stories that spring to mind when I think of him, but I don’t think they’d be able to go out! He’s a mad man.
“We’d all meet up at Highbury and this coach would take us to London Colney for training.
“Graham decided one afternoon, when he got on, and the driver was waiting, that he was going to drive the coach… he’d have been about 17 at the time, and he’s driving it.
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“The driver was standing in the aisles and Graham’s slammed his foot on the brakes, and our driver’s almost gone through the window!
“I think he smashed the whole window to bits. Honestly, there’s just loads of stories like that; he was just a crazy guy.
“He was a good goalkeeper as well, to be fair to him!”
Jens Lehmann was the No1 shot stopper for Arsenal’s “Invincibles” team during the 2003–04 season, when the team went undefeated to win the Premier League title.
A mischievous local lad who grew up in a pub, Stack was an unlikely choice for Arsene Wenger’s famously tight ship.
Stack was sent out on loan to Belgian side Beveren in 2002, but trouble found him again.
When two Antwerp ultras rushed the field, Stack, then 21 years old, was forced to knock out a yob who assaulted him.
He spent six years at Arsenal without ever playing a Prem game, though he did make five League Cup appearances.
The goalie spent time at Millwall and Reading on loan from the Gunners, joining the latter on a permanent basis in 2006.
He also had spells at Leeds, Wolves, Plymouth, Blackpool and Hibs before a four year stint at Barnet, where he made 125 league appearances.