Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says club great Arsene Wenger “chose the right moment” to return to the Emirates Stadium as he sees them underline their title credentials.
Arteta’s young side staged a second-half fightback to beat West Ham and move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League, which resumes after the World Cup.
Wenger, the last Arsenal manager to win the title, made his first return since stepping down in 2018.
“His presence is something that should be very, very associated with this football club so thank [him] for doing that because it means a lot to everyone at the club,” Arteta said. “
“Hopefully he’s willing to spend more time with us and be around us because he’s so influential.”
West Ham took the lead against run-off play when Jarrod Bowen was adjudged to have been clipped in the box by William Saliba, allowing Said Benirhama to smash a confident penalty through the middle.
There was a mood of despair among the home fans until Bukayo Saka converted from close range after collecting Martin Odegaard’s mis-hit shot.
The equalizer gave the Gunners more motivation and another home goal looked increasingly likely.
Five minutes later, he duly arrived. Gabriel Martinelli put the hosts ahead by tucking former West Ham Gunners keeper Lukasz Fabianski inside the near post from a tight angle when he looked most likely to cross.
The points were sealed when Eddie Nketiah – starting in place of the injured Gabriel Jesus – spun quickly into the box before firing into the opposition bottom corner.
Arsenal extended their lead over Newcastle, who moved into second place after beating first-placed Leicester on Monday.
Reigning champions Manchester City – who travel to Leeds United on Wednesday – are now eight points behind the Gunners.
West Ham are 16th and just one point above the relegation zone after their fourth straight league defeat.
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Arsenal fans are beginning to believe that Arteta’s side can realistically sustain their push for the club’s first title since Wenger’s invincibility in 2004.
And as Wenger saw and heard his name lovingly chanted by the home crowd, Arteta’s young side added more motivation to those dreaming of a long-awaited victory.
“It’s a really special day because Boxing Day is a beautiful day to play football and I thought the performance today was at the level we deserved,” Arteta said.
“Hopefully he [Wenger] likes it.”
