Robert Pires says that Arsene Wenger’s basic football philosophy hasn’t changed since the time he was a key member of the Invincibles, and that the Arsenal manager is a lover of football.

The former Gunner spoke to LCI ahead of tonight’s Champions League clash with PSG, and said Wenger’s desire for his team to play attacking, attractive football is at the core of his work.

“He always wants his team playing very good football,” he said. “In my day, this is what he had already set-up.

“Today, this is what he asks his players in training. I see it with my own eyes. It requires good football.”

On the differences in the transfer market, Pires said that Wenger is prepared to spend the money, but still prefers when he can mould a young talent into a top class player.

“You know, it’s difficult to compare generations and eras,” he said. “Now even for a central defender, you have to pay 40 million euros. This is not the philosophy of Arsene. Although, when he had break the bank for Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla, there was no problem.

“He’s not afraid to throw in young talent like Bellerin and Ramsey. He always prefers to form and grow the players, rather than buying them for 60 or 70 million.”

Asked if he had changed much since those halcyon days, he continued, “No, not at all. He still has the same reasoning, the same philosophy, the same conception of football. The only thing that has changed is his game system.

“He changed his old 4-4-2 to 4-5-1.”

On Wenger’s future, he said, “What is certain is that as long as he has the confidence of the Arsenal chairman, he will remain,” which should come as no surprise to anyone, nor is the vision of the Frenchman as someone who simply lives for the game.

“He is a lover of soccer,” he said. He can not live without football. When players arrive, he is already at the training ground.

“He needs the pitch. He can not stay home.”

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You can read the full interview here – via Google Translate