Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has paid tribute to the leadership skills of midfielder Mikel Arteta, who he believes has been a great contributor to his team with his performances.
The Spanish midfielder, who was handed the skipper's armband by the veteran French manager, may well leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
During his captaincy, the Gunners have won two FA Cups, though his performances have been limited due to recurring injuries.
Arteta's next move could be into coaching, with his manager insisting that he would wish him luck for any move the midfielder takes in the future.
Wenger also took time to speak about Arteta's leadership skills, insisting that offering him a coaching role with the youth sides would give him pleasure. However, the veteran manager also took time to insist offering such chances is not always possible and coaches will not be offloaded just to make way for former players.
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"It is a good opportunity for me to thank him for his contribution, not only as a player but also as a great leader", Wenger told his club's official website.
“It is true that he is out of contract here and when his contract finishes it is a good opportunity for me to thank him for his contribution, not only as a player but also as a great leader
“What kind of orientation will he give now to his career? I heard about [coaching] as a possibility, but he could inform you much better than I can. He is free to decide to do what he wants, he will certainly need some time to reflect on whether he continues to play.
“I still think he can play, in the last months he has come back to a very good physical level and he is a position today where he can continue to play and he would be a very good player everywhere.
“You want your former players to be at the club but you also need the positions to fill. You cannot create artificial positions at the club. If you have coaches in the under-16s, under-15s and under-14s who are very good, you will not kick them out to make room for players who want to coach.
“If we have positions available, we always give a good chance to the players who played here. Let’s not forget I’ve given the opportunity to many, many players to obtain their licence here, to educate them.
“After that maybe there will be someone else. We always open the door to give them an opportunity to be educated. After that we need the positions available to give them the job. We don’t know what will happen with the coaches’ movement.”
