Wenger lauds his great rival

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has led the tributes to Alex Ferguson ahead of the long-serving Manchester United manager’s latest honour.

United are to mark the Scot’s phenomenally successful 26 years in charge at Old Trafford by unveiling a statue of the 70-year-old outside the stand that already bears his name today.

Wenger has had many close duels with Ferguson during his own remarkable 16 years with the Gunners but still holds his old adversary in the highest regard and expects United to struggle to replace him.