Arsenal: Arteta praises Smith-Rowe impact
Arsenal have been told to bring Arsene Wenger back to the Emirates in order to help Mikel Arteta on the pitch and Edu in the transfer market. Wenger recently said he’d be happy to return to Arsenal if he was asked to.
Wenger still hasn’t worked since leaving Arsenal back in 2018.
The Gunners legend left the club after 22 years in north London, having failed to guide Arsenal into the Champions League for two years in a row.
Since then, he’s been linked with a series of jobs throughout Europe and the world, but is still yet to venture back into management.
Arsenal have now had two successors to Wenger, first Unai Emery and now Arteta.
They’ve had changes behind the scenes, too, having lost Ivan Gazidis to AC Milan shortly after Wenger’s retirement.
Edu is currently leading the charge off the pitch, and has been instrumental in the club’s transfer activity recently.
But Charlie Nicholas believes it could be worthwhile for the Gunners to bring Wenger back to the club.
Speaking to Paddy Power, he explained that Wenger would be able to play a key role in helping nurture Arteta’s development while helping Edu out with recruitment.
“I suggested about two years ago they should bring Arsene Wenger back to Arsenal,” he said.
“When Wenger and David Dein were a partnership that was bringing in Thierry Henry’s and Patrick Viera’s, it was a partnership that the manager wanted.
“Their relationship worked an absolute treat.
“Wenger was probably too intelligent for football and wanted to have a say in the finances of it too, and Dein would say, ‘if we can afford it, we’re just going to get you the player.’ It worked so well. And I’d still take him back now.
“He’d not be a threat to Arteta, he’d be there to help him.
“He’s a genuine Arsenal fan, and because of that he’ll show the leadership and understanding the club needs.
“If Arsene was to call or turn up to meet a player from Atlético Madrid or Barcelona or Real Madrid, I think there’s a strong chance he’d help get those deals over the line because of his presence and his reputation.
“I still think he could play a marvellous part in teaching Arteta the real rules of the management game.”
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