It would be churlish to suggest that Arsenal FC boss Arsène Wenger is anything less than one of the most accomplished managers in world football today, but Tuesday's UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Manchester United FC could go a long way towards dictating how he will come to be judged alongside opposite number, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Two of a kind
Relations between the two longest-serving managers in the English game have improved considerably in recent years, with respect and admiration now in plentiful supply on both sides. Their names are shorthand for success, youth development and the purist's yearning for attractive football, while the increasingly choppy waters of Premier League management have isolated them as two of a kind – survivors.
Continental record
On the European stage, however, Wenger has yet to make anything like the impact of his Glaswegian rival, whose pair of UEFA Champions League wins and two UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumphs stand in stark contrast to the Frenchman's collection of runners-up medals – one from both those competitions and another in the UEFA Cup. Overturning United's 1-0 advantage at the Arsenal Stadium would of course offer no guarantee that the 59-year-old would then finish on the winning side in Rome on 27 May, but it would at least amend the impression that he must bow down before Sir Alex's continental savvy.
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Formation change
On the eve of the game, Wenger spoke about Arsenal's "empty box" as he repeated his desire to lead the Gunners to a first European crown. The Frenchman fielded a number of players out of their usual positions during last week's 1-0 first-leg defeat, and has hinted at a more attacking 4-4-2 formation for Tuesday as Robin van Persie is available again. This would have the further merit of moving Cesc Fàbregas into a deeper role, an approach which could bear fruit.
Sir Alex irked
While Wenger craves a first triumph at this level, Sir Alex is determined to complete a personal hat-trick and further enhance United's reputation among the continent's greats. "I've always said we've never won it enough times," he said. "It irks me when I look at Bayern who have won it four times, Liverpool have won it five times, Ajax have won it four times, Milan have won it seven times, Real Madrid have won it nine times ... Sometimes I get a bit jealous; we should have done better in the Champions League. This year we have an opportunity to get to four and hopefully we won't miss it." Who will get their wish?
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