Fergie’s tribute to Wenger in the Arsenal programme
WHAT a career — absolutely fantastic. Apart from his managerial skills, he’s shown an incredible endurance, durability and determination. I relished the rivalry we had but I also had a bit of trepidation because you have to win those matches. The contest between our great clubs, I think it made the Premier League. It was the highlight of the league for seven or eight years and whoever won was going to win that league — that’s a fact. When the fixture list came out I’d be on holiday. I went straight to find out when we were playing Arsenal. That was the name of the game then. My abiding memory is him winning the double in his first full season (1997-98). It raised the stakes for us. A Double in his first full year — amazing.