Arsene Wenger was in attendance to watch Arsenal secure a welcome victory over West Ham United on Monday evening.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka fulfilled a lifelong dream by finally meeting Arsene Wenger in person after Monday’s win over West Ham United at the Emirates Stadium.
Saka scored Arsenal’s opening goal of the game in the second half after Said Benrahma struck first blood for the Hammers before the interval, with Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah also finding the back of the net to claim all three points for the Gunners on home soil.
Wenger was in attendance to watch the match for the first time since stepping down as Arsenal manager in 2018 and was treated to a strong performance from Mikel Arteta’s side, who started slowly but eventually grew into the game to seal a welcome victory.
The 73-year-old, who now serves as FIFA’s chief of global football development, went on to meet with Saka in person after the final whistle to congratulate the England winger on another match-winning performance.
Saka broke into Arsenal’s first-team picture around six months after Wenger’s departure but never got to meet him in person despite progressing through the academy ranks during the Frenchman’s time in charge.
The 21-year-old was clearly delighted after being given the opportunity to say hello to Wenger as he took to Twitter to boast: “And finally we meet,” alongside a crown emoji and a red heart.
Wenger will have been left thrilled by Arsenal’s impressive performance against West Ham, with the Gunners extending their advantage at the top of the Premier League table by taking a maximum haul of points from Monday’s fixture. Saka recently spoke of his regret at not meeting Wenger in person while he was still in the Arsenal dugout, admitting earlier this month: “One of my biggest regrets, well not regrets, but something I haven’t been able to do, was to meet Arsene Wenger.”
Bukayo Saka was thrilled to meet Arsene Wenger after Monday’s win over West Ham (Image: GETTY)
The legendary former Arsenal boss also spoke to several other players during his trip to the Emirates Stadium, including the likes of William Saliba, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arteta revealed after the full-time whistle that none of Arsenal’s players knew that Wenger would be in the stands to watch them against West Ham, with the Spaniard thanking him for coming back to watch a match after spending four years away from the club.
“No, the players didn’t know, we wanted to keep it quiet and allow that space for Arsene,” said Arteta. “A very special day, thank you so much to him for coming.
“Hopefully walking through the building he’s going to feel everything that he left here as well. His presence is something that has to be very, very attached to this football club so thanks for doing that because it means a lot for everybody at the club.
“I’ve been involved in the process [of bringing him] but it’s about him, the timing he needed to make that step, and hopefully he’s going to leave here and be willing to spend more time with us and be around us because he is such an influence, for me personally, in my career, the way I see the game, but as well for this football club.”
SOURCE: express.co.uk
