Manuel Almunia was all smiles as he caught up with former Arsenal team-mate Mikel Arteta during the club's winter training camp in Dubai.
The Gunners headed out to Dubai last week during the Premier League's winter break and Arteta's men are not scheduled to play again until 10 February.
But they had a special visitor on Monday, with former goalkeeper Almunia popping by to reunite with his ex-Gunners team-mate, as well as greeting and talking to current stoppers Aaron Ramsdale and Bernd Leno after a session in the heat.
The 39-year-old - who came on for Arsenal in the 2006 Champions League final defeat by Barcelona after Jens Lehmann's red card - made 175 appearances during an eight-year spell in north London before leaving to join Watford in 2012.
That move meant he was only Arteta's team-mate for one year at Emirates Stadium, with the midfielder joining from Everton on deadline day in the summer of 2011.
Spaniard Almunia - who appears to have hit the gym ever since his forced retirement in 2014 - now works for Abu Dhabi-based side Al Jazira, with the club's website saying he works as a translator.
Almunia - who also spent one month on loan at West Ham in 2011 as part of an emergency deal - has also coached the Middle East club's goalkeepers in the past.
He was forced to retire nearly eight years ago after a heart condition was detected at a routine medical.
He was set to join Serie A side Cagliari on a free transfer in the summer of 2014 but tests revealed he had a potentially fatal genetic heart disorder.
Speaking to The Athletic in 2019, Almunia said: 'I knew I needed to be careful.
'When I told the family, my mother was crying. My uncle died from a heart attack after watching one of my games, in 2002. It was certainly something in my family.'
The goalkeeper endured an up and down career in England following a number of error-strewn performances for Arsene Wenger's side in north London.
But he is still remembered for his penalty save for the Hornets in a Championship play-off semi-final against Leicester in the 2012-13 season, which saw Troy Deeney dramatically score seconds later to seal the hosts' place at Wembley.
Arsenal meanwhile will remain in Dubai until Wednesday, 2 February ahead of their trip to Molineux eight days later to face Wolves.
kolonegooner
0
Ramsdale's look ... huh, what r u on about 😲
kolonegooner
0
Seems like a good old reunion .... wheres the new signings 🤔🤥
Superjovic
2
He make arsenal lost champions league title
Natanya_Barrett
0
Brother if I remember 2006 I will never forgive am
Everytime I see his name I get angry
Natanya_Barrett
0
worst goalkeeper in arsenal history
exactly
Sarara
1
Let’s see if he can keep Arteta there. We don’t want him anymore
you and who? speak for yourself otherwise Arteta is doing a wonderful job at Arsenal only a fool can't see.
Mueacdirty
1
arsenal
cemabpruyz
2
Let’s see if he can keep Arteta there. We don’t want him anymore
lokacklmuz
4
worst goalkeeper in arsenal history
Cotclmrst
0
who do Arsenal signed
egravy
1
don't shake his hand before Leno takes your place
Evans0323
0
Almunia was good
Brother if I remember 2006 I will never forgive am
dauiklstz
0
Ramsdale should not shake his hand, or else he will start keeping like Almunia
Almunia was good
Evans0323
4
Ramsdale should not shake his hand, or else he will start keeping like Almunia
mexicodegreat
2
Jasiknpuyz
0
Don't listen to him!!
[image]
Lol😂😂😂🤣🤣
voselmnosu
0
yes we want signings not stories
Mimacdeiko
0
Who the herk cares
Mimacdeiko
0
This is crap 💩
zeccdiopu
2
This is not the news we want
TFree
3
Don't listen to him!!