Maro Itoje and Saracens team-mate Andy Onyeama-Christie present Bukayo Saka with Arsenal's player-of-the-month award for November
Maro Itoje (right) is a big Arsenal fan Credit: Getty Images/Stuart MacFarlane
Having interviewed Maro Itoje and heard from him on numerous occasions while on England duty, I cannot recall him ever mentioning being moved to tears by anything. It turns out something did once get through the armour. Supporting Arsenal will do that to a person.
In Itoje’s defence he was 14 years old at the time. His father, Efe, is an Arsenal fan and passed that on to his son. Itoje still supports the club, singling out the gold Sega shirt and the final Highbury maroon kit as two favourites. He recently attended a game at the Emirates alongside his Saracens team-mate Andy Onyeama-Christie to present Bukayo Saka with Arsenal’s player-of-the-month award for November.
“I’m still a fan now, but Arsenal broke my heart when I was 14. So I promised myself that I wouldn’t allow them to break my heart again,” he tells Telegraph Sport, with a wide smile. “I kind of took a step back, but I still love the club.”
As you can imagine, I have to know more. The emotional hammer blow came during a midweek Champions League fixture; April 2008, Arsenal travelling to Liverpool for the second leg of their quarter-final, the score was 1-1 after the first tie at the Emirates. Liverpool had taken a 2-1 lead when with six minutes of normal time remaining, Theo Walcott picked up the ball deep in Arsenal’s half.
“He dribbled pretty much past the whole team to set up Emmanuel Adebayor. That was to go through on away goals,” Itoje recalls. “And then Liverpool came back and scored twice in the final minutes,” through a Steven Gerrard penalty followed by Ryan Babel in injury time, winning 4-2 and 5-3 on aggregate.
tmg.video.placeholder.alt mn9H1Jz6ef8
tmg.video.placeholder.alt mn9H1Jz6ef8
“As I was watching it, a tear started to trickle down my face and I was like: ‘Oh my goodness, why am I crying.’ I had a moment of realisation; I’m probably caring too much about this in a way that is a little bit unhealthy, considering I was like an early teenager. Whether Arsenal win or lose, it doesn’t benefit me in any way apart from bragging rights. So I promised myself that I would never cry because of Arsenal again.”
Itoje might end up breaking that vow in the future, although for a good reason. His cousin, Andre Harriman-Annous, is a winger for Arsenal’s Under-18s, making 16 appearances so far this season.
“We’re hoping that he goes the whole way,” adds Itoje. “Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get down there to see him play because our schedule is quite tough, but I’ve seen him practise and train. His brother, Brandon, also plays for Hull and is about 18 months older than Andre. Both of them are going quite well.
“If Andre makes it through, hopefully he doesn’t make me cry with Arsenal as well, that would be a double whammy of crying.”
Andre Harriman-Annous in action for Arsenal's Under-18s
Itoje’s cousin, Andre Harriman-Annous (pictured), is a winger for Arsenal’s Under-18s
Festive sporting traditions when Itoje was growing up were limited to getting to grips with the latest Fifa game with his older brother, Jeremy, but since his rugby career took off almost a decade ago his parents have gradually become more invested.
“I actually think they watch more rugby than me,” he laughs. “I went to the house on the Sunday after the Bulls game and they had the rugby sevens on, I didn’t even know what competition it was but they had the final on with South Africa against France. I was like: ‘Wow, I didn’t even realise this was happening.’ They’re big fanatics at the moment.”
Saracens will train early on Christmas Eve and late on Boxing Day, freeing up a window for Itoje “to enjoy myself on Christmas without going crazy”. Christmas dinner for the Itojes is a combination of the usual trimmings plus Nigerian food, adding in jollof rice and a stew. “I try to take it easy on the desserts as well. Maybe just the one.”
Maro Itoje throws a ball about
Itoje will have the opportunity to enjoy himself over Christmas
There are some more serious topics to address. This was the first chance to speak to Itoje since the public uproar over Bill Sweeney’s £1.1 million salary, with the Rugby Football Union’s chief executive future now under threat. Itoje is one of England’s senior players and part of the Team England Rugby organisation who negotiated commercial and welfare considerations with the RFU. He chooses his words carefully.
“From my point of view, we can’t focus on what other people are getting paid. That’s not our concern. The RFU will decide on all of that stuff. I’m not necessarily concerned in the politics of envy, that’s not what it’s about. It’s about making sure the game as a whole grows and the game is moving in a positive direction, that’s my main concern.”
He has also had more time to reflect on England’s autumn, which featured three tight defeats by New Zealand, Australia and South Africa before a win over Japan which looked nice but meant little given the poor quality of the opposition. Itoje feels upbeat about the long-term future for this side, despite five wins in 12 Tests this year.
“Definitely gutted with how [those defeats] went. Most people can see there’s a foundation there of a very good team,” Itoje notes. “We need to execute when the pressure comes on in the dying moments of the game, but I’m extremely optimistic about the future, about where the team is going and what we can do.”
Breaking up the Christmas routine by getting outside to pass a ball around with family and friends is certainly something he encourages, while Saracens should be involved in a couple of crackers against Northampton this Sunday and at Bath on Dec 28. “They can come down to the StoneX and watch a good team play rugby, and if not they can enjoy it on the TV with loved ones,” Itoje adds. Just don’t ask him for the Arsenal score.
Maro Itoje has teamed up withSports Direct for its ‘New Traditions Start Here’ Christmas campaign
tmg.video.placeholder.alt DifsELJ2CtE
tmg.video.placeholder.alt DifsELJ2CtE
Join the conversation
The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy.