‘I would like to have him closer to us’: Mikel Arteta admits he would benefit from having Arsene Wenger back at Arsenal as Frenchman created the club’s ‘vision’ in 22 years at the helm
- Mikel Arteta wants to see Arsene Wenger work in a ‘closer’ capacity with the club
- The new Arsenal, Arteta, manager insists he can ‘learn a lot’ from the 70-year-old
- Arteta has encouraged Wenger to return when safe to do so after the pandemic
- Wenger admits that is ready to go back and that he still ‘suffers’ when they lose
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says that he would like to see Arsene Wenger work in a ‘closer’ capacity with the club as he believes he can ‘learn a lot’ from him.
Wenger stepped away from Arsenal in May 2018 after 22 years at the helm and has not been back since to avoid casting a ‘shadow’ over his former club.
Arteta has rejected claims that Wenger would be interfering and has instead encouraged the 70-year-old to return to the Emirates once government guidelines will allow him to so.
Mikel Arteta wants to see former coach Arsene Wenger work in a ‘closer’ capacity with the club
‘I would like to see him back around us,’ Arteta said about former the Gunners manager, Wenger.
‘He was a massive figure for me and he’s someone that I can still learn a lot of things from and I would like to have him closer to us.
‘Obviously, the actual environment at the moment doesn’t allow us to do it, but I think he’s a figure that has to be very present in what we do at the football club because he is, in my opinion, the one who had the vision and helped this club to evolve and be what it is today.’
Wenger spoken openly earlier in the week and outlined his reason for staying away from the club for the past two years.
Arteta believes he can ‘learn a lot’ from Wenger after his 22 years at the helm of the club
Wenger said he stayed away avoid casting a ‘shadow’ over his the then new coach Unai Emery
The 70-year-old said he was set on giving the then new head coach Unai Emery space and time to develop his own Arsenal philosophy.
Wenger said: ‘I have chosen to keep a complete distance. It doesn’t mean emotionally, just physically.
‘It’s important people don’t see you as a shadow. It may look like you’re still trying to influence things and have your way.
‘I felt that the best thing to do is cut it away.’
However, since Arteta’s appointment Wenger has been more willing to return to the Emirates
Arteta – who served as the club captain under Wenger from 2014 until his retirement as a player in 2016 – took over from Emery as head coach in 2019.
Since his appointment, Wenger has seen more willing to make a return to the Emirates.
When asked if he head back to the old stomping ground anytime soon, Wenger told The Guardian: ‘Yes, I think I can go back.
‘I think I have no real connection anymore with the club, so I didn’t want to provoke one.
‘When will I go back? I really don’t know, but I support the club and I watch the games. I suffer when we don’t win, and I’m happy when we win.’
