Arsenal's Japanese leg of their pre-season Asian tour is a trip down memory lane for Arsene Wenger, as he faces former club Nagoya Grampus –coached by one of his ex-players.
.
The Gunners boss will come up against Dragan Stojkovic, a former Yugoslavia captain, who was with the J-League side when Wenger managed them for 18 months before taking over at the north London club in 1996.
.
Monday's clash will be the Frenchman's first visit back to Nagoya Grampus since his successful time at the helm.
.
Adding further intrigue is that Stojkovic has long been tipped by the British media to succeed Wenger when he calls time on his Arsenal career.
.
"I like to think that people I have worked with can become managers," Wenger told a joint press conference with his opponent ahead of the match at the Toyota Stadium outside Nagoya.
.
"First of all it maybe means that I've given them a little taste to do it and at least I've not disgusted them of doing the job."
.
Asked if he considered the Serb a potential successor, Wenger, 63, said: "Yes."
.
He was quick to add, however, that he is not yet ready to retire and it would be Arsenal's board that makes the decision.
.
To which Stojkovic, 48, quipped: "Wait 10 more years."
.
The Serb added that he was a huge admirer of the English Premier League giants and visits London almost every year to watch them train.
.
"Arsenal is a team that I love a lot," he said. "I love how they play, the style and spirit of the team."
.
Wenger guided Nagoya to win the national cup competition, the Emperor's Cup, in his first spring- autumn J-League season. He won the J-League manager of the year award in 1995.
.
In 1996, Nagoya Grampus finished runners-up in the league – the team's best position until 2010, when Stojkovic led the club to their first J-League title.
.
"For me this was an unforgettable period as a player I really enjoyed," said Stojkovic, who hung up his boots in 2001 after seven years at Nagoya and returned to manage the side in 2008.
.
"I gave my best, I gave my talent," said the Serb, nicknamed Piksi. "He [Wenger] was the boss on the bench and I was the boss on the pitch, so it was a good combination."
.
Stojkovic added: "We have waited for 17 years to see him here again so it's a really special feeling for everyone here."
.
Although English Premier League clubs have flocked to the fast-growing and lucrative Asian market on pre-season tours in recent years, it is the first time in 45 years that an Arsenal first team will play a match in Japan.
Arsene Wenger will definately do very well when it comes to football coaching.....Arsenal Football Club just need a trophy to crown his effort.