With many believing he is Arsenal’s best centre back in the absence of Thomas Vermaelen, Swiss International Johan Djourou confessed he was inspired by Michael Jordan to be a winner in sports.

Speaking to Arsenal TV Online, the 24-year old explained how one can understand from just watching his DVDs that the American professional basketball player was obsessed with winning and always wanted to be the best in the game. The centre back added how there are sportsmen who compete just to enjoy the game but others, like the American, are born winners.

One who takes the game of football very seriously, Djourou confessed he works very hard so as not to be just a footballer, just a player, but to be a winner and win everything there is to win with the Gunners.

Currently out injured with a knee injury, the strong defender is expected to be back in time to face Barcelona, next week, in the UEFA Champions League with Arsenal set to start with Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci for tomorrow’s game against Wolves.

On how Michael Jordan inspired him, Djourou said:

[Who inspired me?] Michael Jordan, I had a chance to look at his DVDs and the obsession of winning and to be the best, that helped me a lot. You have guys that play sports to play it but there is a difference between playing and winning.

I don’t want to be only a player, I want to be a winner and if you look at his records, he won everything and hopefully we will be like that with the Arsenal team.