I was on the football team because I wanted to experience the different iconic social classes of high school. So football for me was an attempt to socially integrate in an interesting way. And then I didn't like it anymore and stopped doing it and focused more on drama and science and other forms of art and music.

We sat around on a hotel balcony with a bottle of wine and tried to figure out how you would go about blowing up a planet. That's the kind of conversations science fiction writers have when they get together. We don't talk about football or anything like that.

I love playing football being out on the pitch with a ball and I will be a little sad when that ends.

Football is a sad game.

I was meant to date the captain of the football team I was going to be on a romantic excursion every Saturday night I was destined to be collecting corsages from every boy in town before prom accepting such floral offerings like competing sacrifices to a Delphic goddess.

Arsenal have won that advantage nobody gave it to them. By playing fantastic football and by winning matches and by winning trophies they won that respect that the opponent has for them.

The importance that our society attaches to sport is incredible. After all is football a game or a religion? The people of this country have allowed sports to get completely out of hand.

After all is football a game or a religion?

Nah I've always had a great relationship with my two brothers I have always had their support in my football and in everything. They've been very close to me and we have a great relationship.

In England it's a rare thing to see a player smoking but all in all I prefer that to an alcoholic. The relationship with alcohol is a real problem in English football and in the short term it's much more harmful to a sportsman. It weakens the body which becomes more susceptible to injury.