Young Arsenal Gunners step up
The 35-year-old winger spent six successful seasons at Highbury.
However, the Frenchman's Arsenal career ended on a disappointing note with a last appearance for the Gunners in the 2006 Champions League final defeat to Barcelona, when he was substituted in an early tactical change following the sending off of goalkeeper Jens Lehmann.
Wenger declared: "Pires was one of the great players I have signed.
"Of course I would think that opinion would be shared by many Arsenal fans.
"Robert is still loved by the club and have a lot of respect for what he has done for the club."
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia, meanwhile, insists now is the time for Wenger's young Gunners to deliver on the big stage.
"This season looks to be our season," the Spaniard declared.
"It looks to be the season for the young players to be man enough to face all the big competitions we have.
"Players like Alex Song, Abou Diaby and Theo Walcott - when these players are 100% fit, they can be mentally prepared to be totally professional, and they have the potential to win trophies.
"We can win every single game and we are here to do it."
Russian midfielder Andrey Arshavin is ineligible for the Champions League having played for Zenit St Petersburg during the group stages before his January transfer to the Emirates Stadium, but France winger Samir Nasri has travelled after overcoming a virus.
