Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger believes Chelsea striker Nicolas Anelka "still loves" his old club.
The 30-year-old Frenchman lines up against his old team in in Sunday's Premier League clash in the Emirates.
Anelka spent two years at Highbury, joining as a 17-year-old in 1997, but left for Real Madrid in a £22 million move during the summer of 1999 amid reports he had become unsettled and demanded higher wages.
"I was disappointed when he wanted to leave us, but the rest is down to him," said Wenger.
"He has not always been at the clubs where his talent deserves him to be, but in the end the talent told, now he is more mature.
"He was out of the French national team for a long time and out of the top level clubs, but now he is where he belongs.
"Slowly, Anelka is getting the credit that he deserves at Chelsea."
Wenger added: "I always kept in touch with Nicolas because I like him and I still believe deeply that he has never lost touch with Arsenal. I believe he still loves this club.
"I always considered bringing him back at some stage, but it never worked because we always had strikers, and I was never a big fan of bringing old players back."
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The 30-year-old Frenchman lines up against his old team in in Sunday's Premier League clash in the Emirates.
Anelka spent two years at Highbury, joining as a 17-year-old in 1997, but left for Real Madrid in a £22 million move during the summer of 1999 amid reports he had become unsettled and demanded higher wages.
"I was disappointed when he wanted to leave us, but the rest is down to him," said Wenger.
"He has not always been at the clubs where his talent deserves him to be, but in the end the talent told, now he is more mature.
"He was out of the French national team for a long time and out of the top level clubs, but now he is where he belongs.
"Slowly, Anelka is getting the credit that he deserves at Chelsea."
Wenger added: "I always kept in touch with Nicolas because I like him and I still believe deeply that he has never lost touch with Arsenal. I believe he still loves this club.
"I always considered bringing him back at some stage, but it never worked because we always had strikers, and I was never a big fan of bringing old players back."
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