“I want to wish Arsene many congratulations on this incredible achievement. I have had the privilege and honour to play under him for many years at both Monaco and Arsenal.
“To reach 1000 games for one club is a historic achievement, but not a surprising one. He is one of the very best managers in the modern game.
“I have been fortunate to play for some extremely gifted coaches. I had Pep at Barcelona and he has proved he is the best at the moment but Arsene is more than just a great manager to me because he was a father figure and a mentor.
“I will never forget his advice and guidance over the years and without him I wouldn’t have achieved half the milestones in my career.
“He deserves all the accolades as he has had a huge impact on Arsenal Football Club and the lives of many players. Long may it continue.”
Written by Steve Milne
