Arsenal news: Arsene Wenger told to re-join the Gunners as Alex Grimaldo plan emerges

Arsenal have been encouraged to consider offering Arsene Wenger a role at the club by their former vice-chairman David Dein, who worked extensively with the Frenchman.

Arsenal started their Europa League campaign with a 2-1 win over FC Zurich and will be looking to record their second successive victory when they take on PSV on Thursday night.

The Gunners were scheduled to take on Everton this weekend but the game was postponed due to the sad passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The other nine Premier League games were also called off, including Liverpool’s clash with Wolves and Manchester United’s trip to Crystal Palace.

However, the Gunners are expected to return to action when they host PSV next week. In the meantime, Arsene Wenger has been urged to return to the club, while Alex Grimaldo is being lined-up as a possible target in January.

Wenger urged to return

Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has urged the club to find a role for Arsene Wenger after Mikel Arteta made it clear that he would welcome the opportunity to bring the Frenchman back into the fold.

Wenger is widely acknowledged as one of the club’s greatest ever managers after his iconic 22-year reign. During that time, the 72-year-old guided the Gunners to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups. Wenger was also the mastermind behind the ‘Invincibles’ team that embarked on a historic 49-match unbeaten run between 2003 and 2004.

Dein worked in tandem with Wenger during his tenure at the club and still counts the FIFA chief as one of his closest friends. He told The Mail of Wenger: “He was a miracle worker, and they just let him go. He left in a similar way to me.

“I thought the club owed Arsene a duty of care, at least a discussion. We need a change but how do you want this to be done? Do you want to be involved? What can we do? Would you like a different role, would you prefer to exit elegantly? You must have dialogue. It didn’t happen in my case, didn’t happen in his. And that really hurt him. I would have done it differently.

“Look, you don’t find a brain like his every day of the week. He’s an Arsenal man, 22 years at the club. Wasn’t his knowledge worth cultivating? Look at where he is now? So he’s not good enough for Arsenal, but he is good enough to be head of global development for FIFA, in charge of 211 countries.”

Grimado’s Plan

Benfica left-back Alex Grimaldo is wanted in January as Arsenal director Edu has a transfer masterplan in place but faces competition.

The Portuguese was linked to an Emirates Stadium move in the summer, but Oleksandr Zinchenko was signed instead from Man City.

However, Arsenal’s midfield shortage means they could either go and sign a new natural midfielder in the next January transfer window. They could go back in for Douglas Luiz, or they could move the Ukrainian permanently into midfield and sign Grimaldo to provide the competition and cover to Kieran Tierney.

If they want the 26-year-old, reports have claimed they will have to fight Newcastle and Man City in this transfer saga, whilst the eventual winners of the Benfica man are only set to have to pay around £8million to the Portuguese outfit if/when he eventually moves on.