Mikel Arteta admits he is keen for Arsene Wenger to return to Arsenal and be ‘closer’ to the squad.
Wenger, who stepped away from Arsenal in May 2018, has not returned to the Emirates Stadium or the club’s training ground since his departure.
‘I have chosen to keep a complete distance. It doesn’t mean emotionally, just physically,’ Wenger told BBC Sport earlier this week.
‘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, Arteta has indicated that he would be happy for Wenger to be handed a role at Arsenal after his former manager spent 22 years at the club.
‘I would like to see him back around us,’ said Arteta.
‘He was a massive figure for me, he’s someone I can still learn a lot of things from.
‘But I think he’s a figure who has to be very present in what we do at the football club because he’s, in my opinion, the one who had the vision and helped this club to evolve and help this club be what it is today.’
