Red mist when Mills crosses a white line

It is often unwise to judge people by first appearances. Take Jordan for example. If you look a little closer - and most of us have if we're honest - two of her things are not quite what they seem.

Professional footballers also often surprise you.

Billy Bonds was one, Stuart Pearce another. Two nicer blokes you couldn't wish to meet in civvies but, put them in a pair of boots and apply some liniment and they were transformed into something altogether different.

Being tackled by Pearce, I am reliably informed, was something akin to running up a mountain during an avalanche. Upset Bonzo and you would quickly discover there just wasn't enough ice to put on the bruises.

Danny Mills, from Norwich, is another of the same ilk. Ask Arsenal fans whom they dislike most right now and it could be Tottenham, it might be Sir Alex Ferguson but it's most likely to be the Middlesbrough defender Mills.

Boro team-mate Gareth Southgate, who lives close to the on-loan Leeds United player and spends a fair bit of time with him on the journeys to and from training, admits he is "a Jekyll and Hyde character".

That is not to say he goes around tearing his own hair out - there's no chance of that even if he wanted to - but something strange does seem to happen to Mills when he crosses that white line.

Off the pitch the England star is certainly far from scary. He has a pleasant disposition, he's articulate and intelligent.

On the pitch, as Gunners fans have found out in the recent saga of matches between the two clubs, he has the habit of upsetting opponents, riling referees and infuriating opposing teams' supporters.

His antics during the Premiership match at Highbury when Arsenal were awarded a penalty, left Thierry Henry beside himself with anger and had the home supporters baying for his blood.

On Tuesday night at Highbury, in the Carling Cup semi-final first leg, Mills was booed every time he got near the ball and was booked for a tackle on Gilberto Silva.

Tomorrow, when the teams meet yet again for an FA Cup fourth-round tie, once more in north London, he expects to be given the bird from the first whistle to the last.

The former Charlton player will take it all in his stride, though. It's happened before and, although he is trying to curb his instincts, it will surely happen again.

What some of those fans from Tuesday night will not know, however, is that Mills stayed behind in London when the rest of the Middlesbrough team returned home. The following morning he appeared on a TV programme where he spoke passionately in support of his favourite charity, the Association of Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus.

Mills became interested in the charity after he and his wife Lisa lost a baby, Archie, with the illness which affects the central nervous system and causes water on the brain.

Whether that wretched experience changed him, or whether he has always been a strong-minded individual, Mills is certainly his own man.

When the England players were seriously debating going on strike in the wake of the Rio Ferdinand affair, Mills was a dissenting voice.

He was unable to envisage any circumstances which would prompt him to withdraw his services and was tempted to put out a statement saying so.

In the end sanity just about prevailed but Mills is certainly not one of the herd. It is perhaps a pity that Mills will not be up against Henry at Highbury tomorrow. The French striker is rested while Boro manager Steve McClaren sees the Carling Cup as his priority and could dilute his team for tomorrow's clash.

Fortunately for the Arsenal fans already rehearsing their insults, Mills is likely to play, although it may be in the centre of defence rather than at right-back.

"Danny's a Jekyll and Hyde character," confirmed team-mate Southgate.

"And I don't really know why other than to say he wants to win so badly.

"I know the Arsenal fans got upset with him in the first match but what people probably weren't aware of was that there were some comments from the Arsenal side to the effect that some of our lads should be booked and he was defending them.

"In training he's no problem and I know he's working hard on preventing himself being booked so often.

"I do believe his reputation goes before him. George Boateng is a similarly aggressive player for us but he doesn't seem to provoke the same sort of reaction as Danny.

"He had a great World Cup for England when he came in after Gary Neville was injured and I am sure he will be knocking on the door next summer in Portugal."

There would be only one thing, however, which would keep Mills from playing for his country, if selected.

"I've been there for the births of all my children," he said recently.

"Wild horses wouldn't have kept me away. And a World Cup Final wouldn't keep me away."

  • Arsenal v Middlesbrough, Highbury, tomorrow, 3pm

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