Former Arsenal midfielder Robert Pires has expressed a desire to return to the club as part of new manager Unai Emery’s backroom staff, according to Mirror Sport.
The Frenchman believes he would be a good fit for Emery, and feels that he could help launch the post-Wenger era with the club.
The 44-year old spent six years between 2000 and 2006 playing for the Gunners, and was an integral member of of the 2003-04 Premier League winning Invincibles squad.
The 1998 World Cup winner still trains regularly with the first-team having maintained a close relationship with the club since departing for Villarreal in 2006, so wouldn’t need time to adjust to his surroundings.
Talking to ESPN at Arsenal’s new kit launch, as cited by Mirror Sport, Pires said:
If I join Unai Emery’s staff, I think it should be good for me, and I hope it should be good for Unai Emery.
I could be like a bridge between him and the players. Because I know the players. For two years I have trained with the guys. So all of them, they respect me.
And I respect the players, I was an ex-player. So the relationship between the players and me is good. That’s why I think I can help Unai Emery.
Pires never held an official coaching position at the club under Arsene Wenger, but the Frenchman hopes he can continue to train with the squad. He continued:
I don’t know what will happen in a couple of months, but if I can train with the guys I will, because for me it’s very important.
With Arsene Wenger it was easy to keep fit and to still train with the first team. So now, I need to talk with the new manager.
If Pires does join Emery’s backroom staff, he would join fellow former Arsenal man Per Mertesacker in starting a new role, with the German defender preparing to take up the role as Arsenal’s Academy Director this summer.
