Former Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos had a long live chat with Italian journalist Nicolo Schira this week.
The 35-year-old, who’s recently retired, talked a little about each club he’s played for, and there was of course a special part to comment on the Gunners.
Senderos has claimed he likes seeing the club being managed by Mikel Arteta, and even suggested a player who they should sign to strenghten the team.
“Arteta knows the environment well and can bring Arsenal back to the top. After Wenger’s farewell it wasn’t easy to start again. With Emery things didn’t go well, but Mikel can be the right man. I want to see the Gunners up high again: you need a great defender”, Philippe Sanderos told Nicolo Schira (via Napoli Magazine).
“I know they are interested in Koulibaly and Umtiti: I would take one of the two to return to the top. The favourite? I say KK.”
Senderos has also recalled the time when he chose to join Arsenal, listing all the clubs who wanted him before joining the Gunners back in 2003.
“I was 18 and Real Madrid and Manchester United had also looked for me. I went to Munich twice to speak with Bayern: Hitzfeld wanted me, but I found a special feeling with Arsene Wenger. He and Gerard Houllier came to Geneva to convince me. Wenger talked to me about football and not about money, he had a plan for me. Then I went to see a game at Higbury, and I was bewitched. That’s why I chose Arsenal.”
The former defender also talked about the feeling of being the club captain, and had a few comments about manager Arsene Wenger.
“It’s a pride for me to wear it, for me, who came from Switzerland. It was one of my great dreams: I will have to thank Arsene Wenger forever for the trust”.”
“At first he was very close to me, giving me a lot of advice. He immediately made me feel like an important player, even though I was 18.”
Since leaving Arsenal, Senderos has played for Milan, Everton, Fulham, Valencia, Aston Villa, Grasshoppers, Rangers, Houston Dynamo and Chiasso. Now he says he’s been studying to become a director, and won’t forget about his great performances with the Gunners.
“I was doing the sporting director course in Spain. David Trezeguet is also there. I reminded him of the Champions League challenge, when I didn’t let him touch the ball in Arsenal-Juventus in 2006 at Higbury.”
