• Premier League

Wenger ready for 'game of the season'

ESPN staff
March 22, 2014
Arsene Wenger describes being in charge of Arsenal for 1,000 games as "a privilege"

Arsene Wenger believes his 1,000th match in charge of Arsenal will be the "game of the season" as his side travel to Chelsea on Saturday.

Arsenal can close the gap on Jose Mourinho's Premier League leaders to just a single point with a game in hand.

And Wenger understands the importance of every match, with four teams in the title race going into the final weeks of the season.

Thanks for standing by me

The Frenchman arrived to north London in 1996 © Getty Images
  • Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger reveals his pride, regrets and humility in a typically waspish take on reaching a landmark few of his counterparts could dream of
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"What is very interesting is you have Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, and that has not happened for years," Wenger told BBC Sport.

"None of these four can say they're not going for it. That would be stupid."

Wenger was hired by Arsenal in 1996 and has gone on to win three Premier League titles and four FA Cups - as well as qualifying for the Champions League for 16 consecutive seasons.

And although Arsenal have not won a trophy since the 2005 FA Cup, Wenger said he is confident that the trophy drought will end soon.

"The next period is to deliver trophies and compete with everyone at the top level," he added. "We have great players, so I'm confident we can win trophies."

Wenger will join Matt Busby, Dario Gradi and Sir Alex Ferguson in reaching the 1,000-match landmark with one English club, and believes "the real quality of management is linked with consistency".

He added: "The club has always supported me. Time will tell if I managed to make this club bigger than it was when I arrived, but I hope so.

"This club has given me a chance and I've turned many things down and shown my loyalty."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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