Wenger: 'It's the only thing missing on my CV'

The Arsenal manager can complete his set by winning the European Cup but first there's Manchester United in the last four

(Reuters)

To succeed in football it is necessary to overcome all manner of teams and all sorts of managers; in the next four days Arsenal and Arsène Wenger go up against two extremes. Before most of us have finished Sunday lunch today, Gareth Southgate, 38, and less than three years in the job, sends out an endangered Middlesbrough team at the Emirates who will defend for their lives and hope to steal something with an attack that has scored five goals in 15 League games. On Wednesday in the Champions' League semi-final, Manchester United will come at Wenger's men with all the force that can be mustered by European champions, a 75,000 crowd and management's master of modern times.

When talking of an apprentice like Southgate – especially such an essentially nice and level-headed man – it is difficult for the elder statesmen not to sound patronising. Wenger is genuinely sympathetic to the task he faces at Middlesbrough, acknowledging: "They're a young side and the lack of confidence and youth of the squad have given them problems. But he's a very good promising young manager." Ferguson would doubtless say the same and will be given the chance to this week, since United – unfortunately for Southgate and his strugglers – visit the Riverside next Saturday.

Once the Champions' League draw threw Arsenal and United together for the first time in European competition, all the old antagonism between their respective managers was inevitably brought up. There will doubtless be moments of controversy to divide them again over the course of the two games, but the hostility has clearly diminished, not least because Ferguson prefers to aim his most wounding barbs these days along the East Lancs Road to Anfield. Wenger was full of smiles when the subject was raised on Friday. "I think that's over, no?" he first remarked, followed by: "It doesn't concern me at all. I look at it like you, with amusement, and focus always on what's important. On the pitch there were always good football games."

With the exception of the epic 1999 FA Cup semi-final (what Friends might call The One With Ryan Giggs' Goal) few have been finer than the most recent episode, Arsenal's 2-1 win in November, which left United fourth in the table. That may or may not be relevant to the second leg, depending on what happens at Old Trafford on Wednesday. While the rest of the world, watching on television, will be hoping for members of English football's big four to throw up another extraordinary 4-4, Arsenal will be tempted to feel a sense of a mission accomplished by scoring even once. The away goal in European competition has become so vital that Wenger among others would happily abolish the rule altogether. "The weight of it is too heavy," he said. "You are encouraged to be very cautious at home and very audacious away from home."

Counter-attack rather than outright audacity may be Arsenal's preferred method on the night, their chances of stealing that goal not improved by the absence of Robin van Persie (injured) and Andrey Arshavin (ineligible).

Winning the Champions' League would complete Wenger's roll of honour, the defeat of his 10 men by Barcelona in the 2006 final remaining a source of deep frustration. "It's missing on my CV," he admits. "I will fight very hard to get it. We were 30 minutes away three years ago and I'm convinced we can do it." A word of warning from one who knows, 200-odd miles north: "It's not easy winning the European Cup," Sir Alex Ferguson was saying at much the same time on Friday. "It took me 13 years, and another nine years before I won it again. It's not easy."

The desire is still there, however, doubtless intensified whenever United's manager hears the Kop crowing "we won it five times". Ferguson would be pleased to equal Liverpool's 18 League titles, as he should do shortly, but absolutely thrilled to match their European triumphs. "Our European record has not been enough," he reiterated. "Liverpool have won it five times, Bayern four times, Ajax four times and we really should be thinking about it in terms of that for our club because I want it to be more."

They almost slipped up in the last round, allowing Porto a late goal as well as an early one in the home leg, although playing that game two days after a draining League match against Aston Villa was a mitigating factor. This time the fixture swings and roundabouts offer a brief advantage to United, having played yesterday evening as opposed to Arsenal's lunchtime date today.

"I think they're a formidable side, Arsenal," Ferguson said. With a formidable manager, who leads him 15-14 over the course of their many memorable contests. Roll on the next two.

The semi-finals

Tuesday: Barcelona v Chelsea (ITV1, 7.30pm)

A shortage of left-backs is hardly ideal when playing Barcelona, so Chelsea really could do with Lionel Messi developing a strained hamstring in the next couple of days. Then there are Samuel Eto'o and Thierry Henry to worry about for a defence that has been wobbling recently.

Wednesday: Manchester United v Arsenal (Sky Sports 2, 7.0pm)

Add up the scores from their two meetings each season in the Premier League and United have beaten Arsenal on aggregate five times in the last six years. They are marginal favourites to go through and the odds will shorten further if they can keep a clean sheet in the first leg.

Champions' League (Odds supplied by William Hill):

7-4 Barcelona; 9-4 Manchester United; 7-2 Arsenal, Chelsea.

Steve Tongue