Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson shared one of the greatest rivalries in English football history when Arsenal and Manchester United went head-to-head many years ago.
The Gunners host the Red Devils in the Premier League on Wednesday night in a fairly important game. However, it’s not a title-deciding six-pointer like it was back in the early 2000s.
In those days, Arsenal and Manchester United were the ones going for the league title every season, and it’s safe to say that people at both clubs just didn’t like each other.
The rivalry between Wenger and Ferguson even got a bit too tense at times – we don’t see too much of that in today’s game.
The lesson Arsene Wenger taught Mikel Arteta while talking about Sir Alex Ferguson
Wenger and Ferguson had a go at each other several times when they were challenging for the title.
The rivalry was extremely fierce, so much so that many people were convinced that the two legendary managers hated each other.
Mikel Arteta was still a young man when Wenger and Ferguson were going at it, but he had the chance to work with the former and hear all the stories.
Ahead of the game against Manchester United on Wednesday night, Arteta was asked about that rivalry and the ‘hatred’ the two managers shared.
The Spaniard replied, as relayed on HaytersTV: “I saw a lot of respect as well there.
“I was lucky to have Arsene here and the way he was always talking about Sir Alex, his teams and the way he conducted himself – it was top.
“That was a lesson as well because you really want to win but as well you have to accept that the opponent can be better or you can be better than the opponent, and you have to continuously move on.”
READ MORE: Seven best Arsenal moments against Man United including Wenger at Old Trafford and Keown celebration
Arsene Wenger just doesn’t get the credit he deserves
Wenger is one of the greatest football managers of all time.
The legendary Frenchman didn’t just change Arsenal, he revolutionised the English game as well. The Premier League would’ve been very different without him.
Wenger’s success on the pitch doesn’t get the credit it deserves. How he came to England from Japan and went toe-to-toe with Ferguson for many years was nothing short of extraordinary.
He guided Arsenal to an entire season unbeaten as well – ‘that achievement stands above everything else,’ said Ferguson himself.
In the second half of his Arsenal career, Wenger had to make a lot of sacrifices season after season to help build the club to what it is today.
The global brand Arsenal have become today on and off the pitch wouldn’t have been possible without Wenger’s sacrifices in the early Emirates era.
Wenger deserves a lot more respect than he gets from some people. We’re just so glad that he represented our club and upheld Arsenal’s values.
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