Arsene Wenger feels Nicolas Anelka still "loves" Arsenal - even if the Chelsea striker will be out to dent his former club's title hopes on Sunday.
Anelka, now 30, joined the Gunners as a 17-year-old in February 1997 from Paris St Germain and, following an injury to Ian Wright, went on to help them win the Double in 1998, scoring against Newcastle at Wembley.
However, Anelka departed Highbury for Real Madrid in a £22million deal during the summer of 1999 amid reports the young striker was becoming unsettled and had demanded higher wages - earning him the nickname 'Le Sulk' from some fans.
Since then, the France international forward failed to stay at one club for long - going back to PSG on loan in 2000 before a short spell at Liverpool then campaigns with Manchester City, Turkish side Fenerbahce and Bolton before joining Chelsea for £15m in 2008.
Anelka has struck up a decent partnership with Didier Drogba at the Blues, with his goal in the Champions League win at Porto taking his current tally to six ahead of Sunday's showdown with the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium.
Wenger always remained in touch with Anelka, and revealed he had often considered bringing the striker back to Arsenal.
"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."
