Aaron Ramsey is hoping that his old Arsenal team-mate Mikel Arteta can deliver the Premier League title to North London this season.
The Welshman, 32, played alongside the Gunners boss for five years and won the FA Cup before the Spaniard announced his retirement.
They forged a special bond over the years, with Arteta studying for his coaching badges in Wales — something the two men often spoke about during their time together at the Emirates Stadium.
On the former Manchester City assistant, Ramsey said: “It would be absolutely great [if Arsenal win the league].
“It is still a massive part of me. I spent 10, 11 years there and for them to go on and win the league, I’m as much a fan as anybody.
“I still know so many players and members of staff there. The fans deserve it.”
Wales’ new captain believes Arteta, 41, was always destined to step into management after his playing days and it is already paying off.
He said: “You could see his leadership qualities and the way that he handled himself was second to none.
“What he is doing now, definitely, you could see he was always going to be a manager one day, the way he thought and saw the game and how intense he was as well.
“It is absolutely unbelievable what he has done there, what they are doing at the moment.
“We used to talk about it [the FA Wales] and he would tell me how impressed he was with the Welsh set-up, their methods and the way that they go about things.”
