Mikel Arteta, the current manager of Arsenal, has expressed his heartfelt tribute to Arsene Wenger following the unveiling of a statue in honour of the legendary former manager.
Arteta had the privilege of playing for Wenger during his time as a player at Arsenal, and the Frenchman even bestowed upon him the prestigious role of captain.
Wenger’s remarkable tenure at the Emirates spanned an impressive 22 years before he bid farewell to the club in 2018. Despite his departure, Wenger has continued to contribute to the world of football through his involvement with FIFA.
Last year marked Wenger’s return to Arsenal for the first time since his departure, and the unveiling of the statue serves as a fitting tribute to preserve his remarkable legacy at the club. The statue stands as a symbol of Wenger’s enduring impact on Arsenal and the profound respect and appreciation he holds in the hearts of players, fans, and the football community as a whole.
Speaking about his former manager, Arteta said via Arsenal Media:
“I learned so much from him and if I had to pick one of his many great values, it is how loyal he was and how much he defended the club, its players and football in general.
“The passion he has for the game is just phenomenal and you could see that. He really wanted to respect the game and he wanted it to be played in a certain way. Also, the way he always put the club in front of any personal interest at all times is something that I have tried to learn from him.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
There truly would be no modern Arsenal without mentioning Wenger for the tremendous work he did at the club in the 90s, 2000s and 2010s.
He kept us in the top four for two decades and ensured we remained one of the traditional big sides in the Premier League, which set the standard for other managers after him.
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The gaffer says loyalty is what he admires most about the Frenchman, that could be a direct message to the Kroenke as well.
Speaking about loyalty the legendary Frenchman has spent 22 years at the club, winning almost everything there is to win at club level.
Despite getting numerous offers to move to several clubs, the Real Madrid’s and Barcelona, Wenger decided to stay with Arsenal and continue to fight out to achieve more success.
Legend have it he could easily spent huge sums on buying players who could achieve him instant success and swelled up his trophy cabinet. He decided to adopt a policy that was best for the club in his opinion.
He has provided Arsenal with stability and Arsenal now has a strong platform which they can achieve success.
Can’t see the gaffer displaying such fiscal discipline, will fans shows an interest in balancing of the books?
What most fans would like to see myself included, is for the gaffer to take a page from Wenger Management book.
‘Man management’
The statue is brilliant, just like the man himself – Mikel’s words are worth remembering when any Arsenal fan starts to knock a truly great manager, person and Arsenal supporter.
His dedication to our club during both the good and bad times was second to none.
Thank you and merci Arsene.
He blooded moi. I fell in love with Arsenal cuz of him. I wish he’d attend more games it would help inspire the stadium, fans and team.