Pennant craves Highbury return

Andrew, however, disagrees, insisting: 'He is not a bad person. I promise you that.'

He added: 'From the time I saw this 15-year-old kid coming to meet me at Nottingham station, I knew there was something about him.

'He would be the first to admit that he has made mistakes. But what is it they say? The man who hasn't made a mistake hasn't made anything? He has learned from them. I tell him all the time and I just don't speak to him to tell him what he wants to hear, either. Sometimes, I am the last person he wants at the other end of the phone.

'Jermaine, by his own admission, knew he had to work on things other than football. He is brutally honest with himself. He is working on his nutrition, how he relaxes, how he trains. And this season, I have seen a whole new Jermaine Pennant. He has matured. He is hungry for success and he knows he must handle himself in a proper fashion to achieve that.

'Being at Leeds has helped. He has played over 20 Premiership games and he is thriving on that.'

He even scored against Chelsea at Elland Road in December, though his performances have suffered as Leeds have lurched from one crisis to another. But at least he has managed to retain his place in the side.

Andrew said: 'Nothing fazes him and I think a lot of credit must go to Arsenal to allow him to join another Premiership club. He has benefited so much. The problem for him has been that in football, if you make a mistake, no one ever forgets it. All he can do is prove that he has learned his lesson. He has to prove how he is now off the pitch.

'I have been around football long enough to know that this game is 90 per cent sweat, grit and determination. The other 10 per cent is ability. Jermaine is now working on the 90 per cent he has to put in. I know him and I know he has the ability to deal with whatever life chucks at him.'

Pennant need look no further for a role model than the star of the Andrew stable - Sol Campbell. Like Pennant, he came from a tough area, but Campbell has always handled himself impeccably.

'Sol talks to him but so do so many other people who want Jermaine to fulfil his potential,' said Andrew. 'He wants to do that at Arsenal.'

Pennant will miss out on tormenting Southampton tonight as he'll be helping Leeds in their quest for three points against Wolves. Next season, if things go to plan, could be another matter entirely.

A win tonight would increase Arsenal's lead at the top to five points. Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger will recall Ray Parlour to midfield instead of Edu and Jose Reyes will partner Thierry Henry up front.

Wenger would have preferred to have given new signing Reyes a break but injuries to Dennis Bergkamp, Sylvain Wiltord and Jeremie Aliadiere, and the unavailability of Nwankwo Kanu mean he has no choice but to start with the Spaniard. 'I would have liked to give him more time,' said Wenger.