Mikel Arteta thinks Arsene Wenger’s long-awaited return to Arsenal on Boxing Day was the “perfect timing.”

The storied Gunners manager was present for the 3-1 triumph over West Ham, which saw the north London team return to Premier League action in impressive fashion and secure a fourth straight league victory.

Given that it was his first visit to the club since leaving in 2018, when his 22-year reign came to an end, Wenger’s return to Emirates Stadium was noteworthy.

Wenger was serenaded by the Arsenal faithful during the comeback triumph, where second-half goals from Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Eddie Nketiah secured all three points, in contrast to the cold greeting he received from the supporters during the later parts of his time at the club.

Arteta thinks Monday’s game arrived at the perfect time, despite the fact that Wenger’s return to his former hunting grounds has taken some time.

“Winning, my mood is going to be much better talking to him and to be around the team,” he told reporters.

“He picked the right moment, a really special day because Boxing Day is a beautiful day to play football and I thought today the levels were what he deserved and hopefully he’ll like.

“The players didn’t know [about it]. We wanted to keep it quiet and allow that space for Arsene. Stan and Josh [Kroenke] are here as well and it was a really special day.

Read Also:Arsenal Bounce Back To Beat West Ham In London Derby

“Thank you so much to him for coming. Hopefully walking through the building he’s going to feel everything that everybody thinks of him, the legacy he left here.

“He is very, very attached to this football club. Thank you to him for everything he did at the club.

“Hopefully he’s going to leave here and be willing to spend more time with us and be more around us because he’s such a big influence for me personally in my career, the way I see the game, but as well for this football club.”

On Saturday, Arsenal will play host to Newcastle United to kick off the new year before traveling to Brighton and Hove Albion to close out 2022.