Arsene Wenger is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers of his generation and his legacy will live long after he leaves North London.
Many define his ability as a manager by his success in the Premier League, but Emmanuel Petit believes his skills lie further outside his capacity to win trophies and more in developing the human side of becoming a footballer.
"For me, it is very important [that he dealt with the human aspect of the player]. I think we are missing that more and more in modern football. We are too focused on the financial side which is becoming more important.
"But I believe it's something that people meet every day when they go into their jobs. Before coming here every morning and you try to do the very best you can, you are a normal human being, with your weaknesses and your qualities.
"If you don't work on the human being first, then you can not get the most out of them in your job. I think Arsene has a good attitude, he always did things like this. He always tried to improve the human being and it's always interesting to see what kind of profile of player that he brings to Arsenal."
Emmanuel Petit in action for Monaco in 1991. Image: Neal Simpson / EMPICS Sport
Petit began his career at Monaco under the guidance of Wenger and said that the 66-year-old offered him some important advice at the beginning of his career.
"I stepped into the first team when I was 16 or 17 years old and never left. I played in every single game, the French Cup final, the European Cup final against Weder Bremen in 1992 when we lost. I had an amazing
"I had an amazing start as a young player but, you have no idea what he said to me. He came up to me on the following day of my first game. I had been marking a striker who played for the national team and I had a great game. He didn't score and we drew the game.
"The following day when we recovered from that game, after a run he came over to me while I was stretching on the sideline. He said: 'Emmanuel you have to open your heart and open your mind as well, because if you don't do that you'll never know who you are. You are a young fellow and at your age you have to enjoy your life. That means sometimes you have to go to clubs, drink beers with your friends and do your own stuff.'
Former French international, Emmanuel Petit, was in Dublin today to launch the campaign, all part of Carlsberg’s commitment to ‘do it better for the fans’. The former World Cup and European Championship winner brought with him the Henri Delaunay European trophy that he lifted at Euro 2000 and urged the green army of Irish fans to join him in France in the summer.
"I was looking at him and I said 'I was trying to be the best footballer I can. After the game yesterday, I went straight home to eat and then I went to bed.'
"He said: 'That's what I'm saying. You need to leave, you need to discover who you are really inside your personality. You are too young to understand that. If you want to become a better player, you need to know who you are.'"
When asked if he pursued Wenger's advice he replied: "You have no idea."
He also revealed some interesting habits of the Arsenal manager.
"Walking on the grass in his feet helps him to think better. He does that you know at his house. I've known him for 25 years. From the start of his first managerial position at Monaco until now, I know how he has progressed as a person."
Carlsberg ambassador, Emmanuel Petit, was in Dublin with the Euro 2016 Trophy to announce Carlsberg’s Probably the biggest Euro ticket giveaway in Ireland with over 1,100 Ireland match tickets up for grabs. To enter go to Facebook.com/Carlsberg or visit participating outlets over the next 6 weeks.
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