The cultured Frenchman is one of the few people in football who are in danger of giving it a good name. Not only does he insist on the beautiful game being played beautifully but he looks at improving every aspect of his club on and off the pitch and his contribution to the standing and progress of Arsenal Football Club is so significant, it's well nigh incalculable.

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He has been in charge of the Gunners since 1996 and the highlights of his time at the helm include steering his side to the league and cup double in both 1998 and 2002 and consistently keeping them in the top three teams in the land.

The mark of all great managers is not only measured in trophies but in the ability to create more than just one great team and during his time at the helm, Wenger has produced three – the side of Adams, Wright and Bergkamp; the side of Campbell, Vieira and Henry and now the side of Fabregas, van Persie and Adebayor.

His teams will always be renowned for the beauty and athleticism with which they play and at times his sides can elevate football to the level of ballet with their touch, movement, pace and passing ability.

But his sides have usually had steel as well as silk – and that is what has been missing to a certain extent this season.

Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira's on-pitch clashes were the stuff of legend when United and Arsenal were by some distance the two top teams in the land.

And it has frustrated the Arsenal manager in recent seasons that while he has been able to assemble one of the most talented teams on the planet, he has not been able to secure the strength of leadership or the strength in depth to make that squad into something which can dominate continually rather than merely dazzle intermittently.