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Wenger - Freddie could return to Arsenal

Arsene Wenger says Freddie Ljungberg still has a future at Arsenal despite taking up a post alongside Andries Jonker at Wolfsburg.

Freddie, who played 328 times for us, winning two league titles and three FA Cups, took up an ambassadorial role with the club in 2013 and has spent this season coaching our under-15 side.

The 39-year-old has been appointed as assistant manager to Jonker, who also left for Wolfsburg after three years as our academy director. Wenger wishes both men well and thinks Freddie could return to London Colney one day.

"Freddie has done extremely well with the under-15s here," said the boss. "I was in touch with him constantly during his experience there.

"We gave him permission to go [to Wolfsburg], but with a promise that he will come back if there’s a possibility to come back here. Overall, I think it’s part of his education to become a coach, to have this kind of experience. Hopefully we can use that later at Arsenal.

"Andries has been at Wolfsburg before," Wenger added. "They knew him and they took advantage of the fact they know him to attract him there.

"Wolfsburg is a good opportunity because they have the third [highest] budget in the league. If you look at their team, their squad, they have very good players, so I think he has a good opportunity there to get them out of the relegation battle and as well to prepare to be their long-term coach there."