Arsenal came back from a goal down to secure a hard-fought win over London rivals West Ham United at their home ground, the Emirates Stadium, on Tuesday (December 27) morning IST. Goals from their young brigade of Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Eddie Nketiah helped them overcome an early goal conceded from the penalty spot, and it was the perfect way to welcome the return of their talismanic former manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger sat in the stands, having spent 22 seasons in the dugout of the club, as the current Premier League leaders went seven points clear off the top of the table. One of his former proteges, and the manager of the team Mikel Arteta, was elated to share a dressing room with Wenger after so many years. "Winning, my mood is going to be much better talking to him and to be around the team," he told reporters after the victory.
"He picked the right moment, a really special day because Boxing Day is a beautiful day to play football and I thought today the levels were what he deserved and hopefully he'll like," the Spanish head coach added.
Wenger won the Premier League thrice during his time in North London. After his departure, current Aston Villa manager Unai Emery had an unsuccessful stint after which Arteta was handed the reins. Ironically, it was Arteta's third year anniversary in the job and the perfect result to measure the team's progress.
But the professional that he is, Arteta pushed this achievement aside, instead concentrating on giving Wenger the perfect return.
"The players didn't know [about it]. We wanted to keep it quiet and allow that space for Arsene. Stan and Josh [Kroenke] are here as well and it was a really special day. Thank you so much to him for coming. Hopefully walking through the building he's going to feel everything that everybody thinks of him, the legacy he left here.
"He is very, very attached to this football club. Thank you to him for everything he did at the club. Hopefully he's going to leave here and be willing to spend more time with us and be more around us because he's such a big influence for me personally in my career, the way I see the game, as well for this football club," Arteta elucidated.
