Mikel Arteta says he wants former manager Arsene Wenger around the club as he fails to say the role the French man will occupy.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he wants former club manager Arsene Wenger around the club.
Mikel Arteta played under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal and he knows what the French man is capable of doing.
The 71 years old left Arsenal in 2018 after 22 years in charge and is now working as FIFA’s chief of global football development.
Arteta played under Wenger for five years before retiring in 2016 and moving into a coaching role at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. He returned to Arsenal as head coach in December 2019.
Speaking ahead of his side’s home match against Newcastle in the Premier League on Saturday, Arteta said: “I spoke to him when we went to see the film (Arsene Wenger: Invincible). It was incredibly pleasant to see him and to chat to him.
“Hopefully we can bring him close because I think he would have a great time just seeing the environment that he can create around him when he’s around this place, because of the respect, admiration and love that everybody at the club has for what he’s done and for what he represents as a person in this club.
When asked about the role Wenger could take on at the club, Arteta replied: “I cannot tell you now, but what I can say is that I would like him to be much closer personally to me because I think he will be a great help.
“I think he will be a great help for the club. Things take time and I think he has to dictate those timings, but what I can say is that from my side and I think it on behalf of everybody, we would be delighted to have him much closer.”
