Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has opened up about the progress made by the Gunners under Mikel Arteta.
Wenger, who won three league titles and seven FA Cups during his 22 years at the club, was honoured with a statue outside the London club’s stadium.
“I worked for this club when I had the experience and capacity to look at the bigger picture,” he said after visiting his statue for the first time. “Many times I said I want to work and prepare this club to go even higher up after me, and I wish every day that happens now.
“I feel that the effort and the suffering was worth it. Now the club is in good hands; It’s in the hands of two ex-players in Mikel Arteta and Edu; I bought Edu when he was at Corinthians and Mikel Arteta from Everton, and they are guiding the club well. I can look at it in a relaxed way!
“I feel that Mikel is doing well, making the right decisions, and having an organised team who, for me, can now challenge for the championship. We did it last year, let’s get over the line this year.
“I’m confident because last year with eight games to go, I always felt we would do it. We invested again a lot this year and strengthened the squad well, so overall I’m very happy with the three signings. We have all the tools to do well and to challenge for the championship.”
He also shared his thoughts on returning to the Emirates Stadium while stating that it is an emotional moment.
“It’s always very emotional because it’s like a film going through your head, you know? It’s very difficult to select the emotions because you are flooded by many emotional situations that you experienced before - on that front, it’s not easy,” he said.
“On the other hand, you are happy because you feel you are back home. Five years on I feel strongly attached and linked to the club. The attachment is unbelievably strong and it’s funny because it’s Arsène and Arsenal - it looks like my destiny.
“I’m less [stressed] but I still kick every ball. I look at the decisions made, the bad decisions and the good decisions as well, so the tension is still there, but it’s not comparable. I think if I were here every week, I’d be much more tense, but when I come back once in a while, I want as well to enjoy it, to see friends and get a good taste of the atmosphere here.”