Arsenal are reportedly keen to bring Arsene Wenger back to the club to help Mikel Arteta and it’s something the Frenchman would be keen to explore.

Arsene Wenger (R), manager of Arsenal FC and Mikel Arteta address the media during a press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of sixteen second leg match against FC Bayern Muenchen at Allianz Arena on March 10, 2014 in Munich, Germany.
MUNICH, GERMANY – MARCH 10: Arsene Wenger (R), manager of Arsenal FC and Mikel Arteta address the media during a press conference ahead of their UEFA Champions League round of sixteen second leg match against FC Bayern Muenchen at Allianz Arena on March 10, 2014 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Lennart Preiss/Bongarts/Getty Images)

There is no doubt that Arsene Wenger did not want to leave Arsenal and, under Unai Emery, the Frenchman has not been back to the Emirates to watch Arsenal.

Now Mikel Arteta is in charge, the path is clear for Wenger to return, as a spectator at least, but it seems the club want him back in a much more hands-on way.

That might be something of a stretch given he has just taken up a top role with FIFA which basically sees him serve as the right-hand man to Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s president.

Speaking just before Arteta’s appointment as head coach following Emery’s sacking, Wenger said, “I believe that Mikel Arteta has a great future.

“He has certainly learned a lot in his first position as an assistant coach. After that, as well, he will have to deal with the fact that he has no experience at that level.

“He will have to be surrounded well, have a good environment at the club. I think the most important [thing is], every club, and Arsenal especially, is built on special values. Inside the club, people have to take care of that.

“That is the most important. What makes a club great is first the values of the club. You have to be faithful to that and continue to develop that.”

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Captain Thomas Vermaelen of Arsenal (2R) lifts the trophy in celebration alongside Lukas Podolski (L), Mikel Arteta (2L) and Arsene Wenger manager of Arsenal (R) after the FA Cup with Budweiser Final match between Arsenal and Hull City at Wembley Stadium on May 17, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 17: Captain Thomas Vermaelen of Arsenal (2R) lifts the trophy in celebration alongside Lukas Podolski (L), Mikel Arteta (2L) and Arsene Wenger manager of Arsenal (R) after the FA Cup with Budweiser Final match between Arsenal and Hull City at Wembley Stadium on May 17, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

According to a recent report, Arsenal are making in-roads in their talks with Wenger, believing it would help get supporters back on-side which seems a strange suggestion given how divisive Wenger was in his final years and how the whole fanbase has largely united behind Arteta.

It’s also worth noting that the original article, which was in the Mirror, was deliberately vague leaving wide open the possibility that Arsenal could simply be talking to Wenger about a return to the Emirates to watch a game, and maybe give the crowd a wave from the pitch at half-time as he’s interviewed. If I had to, I’d place all my money with Melbet that is what’s going on.

Wenger has frequently talked about his eagerness to return to the touchlines, however by taking up a role with FIFA perhaps he’s realised that at 70-years-old, it might be time to slow it down a bit and enjoy life a bit more.

“I cannot imagine life without football,” Wenger said not long after being sacked by Arsenal. “Even if I don’t work I will watch football every day. That will not change.”

When asked whether he would come back to the Emirates Stadium, Wenger responded: “Of course, why not? First of all I have to decide what I do in the future and take a bit of distance because the intensity I’ve had over the last 22 years demands a little bit of reflection.

“I always felt that after 2016 that the club would be in a financial situation where we would compete again,” he explained. “What I could not predict is that clubs would move up another level financially that makes it more difficult now.

“But I still think Arsenal will come back and compete for the championship.”

Like most of us, of course, Wenger at the time of these comments, did not have any clue of the havoc Unai Emery would wreak in his short-lived tenure.

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