Surprise! Arteta reunited with former Arsenal striker before Champions League clash

The Frenchman, who was a team-mate of Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta from 2013 to 2016, was spotted at London Colney on Tuesday morning as the squad were put through their paces during training. It is not clear as to why Sanogo was present at the Sobha Realty Training Centre, but he was able to catch up with Arteta prior to the Spaniard going to oversee preparations for the Champions League clash.

Yaya Sanogo and Mikel Arteta PA Sanogo spent four years at Arsenal upon joining from Auxerre on a free transfer as he caught Arsene Wenger's eye, at the time, after scoring seven goals in the same week. "For all the problems I'd had, the phone wouldn't ring for two years," Sanogo recalled when speaking to Masterclass media.

"But after my seven goals in two games, Arsene Wenger calls me. I had a little Motorola, I promise you I had that phone.

I was at home using my Macbook and I saw +44. I'm thinking 'What is this number?' So I don't answer, but he called again.

I thought it was a joke. I say 'Yes?' 'It's Yaya Sanogo?' I say 'Yes'.

He tells me 'Everybody is talking about you, seven goals in one week, not many players have done it'. And I told him 'Yes, thank you, that's nice'.

But I didn't know what to say. He told me 'I see you are shy.

I'm getting my plane and I want to meet you. I don't know if you care, I know there's a lot of clubs that want you, especially after the week you had.

Would you be interested to meet me in Paris?' I said 'Yes' but I don't realise. He asked me when it's OK to come to Paris and he hung up."