PUEL: GUNNERS COULD SUFFER FOR YEARS WITHOUT WENGER

Foxes boss backs outgoing rival to win Champions League with a new club..

ARSENAL face a spell in the doldrums after the “great loss” of Arsene Wenger, according to compatriot Claude Puel.

Leicester boss Puel played under Wenger for seven years at Monaco before later following him into management.

The pair will be in opposing dug-outs tonight when Arsenal visit the King Power Stadium in Wenger’s penultimate game in charge.

Puel (with the Arsenal boss above) reckons the Gunners will find it impossible to replace him with a top manager capable of bringing instant success next season, and that other leading bosses may not even fancy succeeding him at the Emirates.

Fellow Frenchman Puel, 56, said: “He is a great loss for Arsenal. After a few years they can come back at a good level, but it is difficult when a club have had success like this and must replace the manager, and sometimes replace valuable or great players.

“It will be difficult for the new manager. Perhaps great managers will like different options (to joining Arsenal).

“I hope the fans and club do not regret their choice because he has had a massive impact at Arsenal for 22 years. How can you replace him? It is tough, like after Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.”

Puel also criticised the timing after the club announced Wenger’s departure last month.

He said: “Just to finish here is harsh. You try to give your best, then brutally it is finished.”

Puel insists Wenger could have won the Champions League elsewhere if he had not been so loyal. He said: “Porto wanted me to become manager after Jose Mourinho.

“It was a possibility to manage the champions of Europe. I asked Wenger what he thought of the situation in 2004, when I was at Lille.

“He tells me one thing: ‘You have a contract and, if your chairman agrees, you can leave. If your chairman doesn’t agree, it is important to respect the contract’.

“This is Arsene Wenger. He has had a lot of possibility to manage great clubs in Europe and stayed always to give his best and to build.

“At other clubs, he can have a fantastic team and perhaps win the Champions League.”

THE HIGHS AND GLOWS Santi Cazorla got his kicks in training, while (right) Jack Wilshere made a grab for Aaron Ramsey