Arsene Wenger's 1,000 Is Incredible, but Arsenal Will Fall Short in Title Race

Arsene Wenger takes charge of the Arsenal team for a phenomenal 1,000th time in a huge title clash with Chelsea on Saturday.

It is some achievement, and our paths have crossed on many occasions. I played for Arsene at Monaco, and he signed me from Tottenham when I was 28. And when I was England manager, I helped him on his way to Arsenal.

It was a phone call to me from David Dein that might well have been the clincher in Arsene going to Arsenal.

David Dein called me because he was still unsure whether to appoint Arsene. No one had heard of Arsene Wenger in English football.  At that time, it was a huge risk to bring in a foreign coach, certainly one that the Arsenal fans, and the whole of English football, would have been shocked to see as they would not have known much, if anything, about him.

I told David Dein to “go out and get him.” I knew from my experience working with him at Monaco that Arsenal would be getting a superb coach.

What he has achieved at Arsenal is incredible. In the early days, he won so much for the club that it seems ridiculous that there has been so much criticism of him in the past year or two because Arsenal haven’t won a trophy for some time now.

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

Arsenal fans are clamouring for a trophy, but they mustn’t lose sight of the fact that Arsene Wenger has been a massive success. He has performed a marvellous job and revolutionised the club with his forward thinking, and it’s a credit to his enormous talents that he should be taking charge of his 1,000th game for Arsenal.

The likes of Arsene Wenger (and indeed Sir Alex Ferguson) will never be seen again in English football.  There is far too much at stake and too much pressure. Chairmen push the panic button, resulting in far too much instability.

Arsenal do need a trophy after all this time, for sure—I agree with that. It’s ironic, when you think about it, that I helped convince David Dein about Arsene, and Arsene had his success when Dein was vice chairman of the club and the man behind the scenes pulling the strings on transfers.

You would have to be honest and say that Arsene Wenger misses David Dein, and I am sure David Dein misses being in control of those affairs for the club he loved and always supported.

The game is as much about what goes on off the pitch as well as on it, and the set-up was right with Dein and Wenger.

Arsene goes into his 1,000th game with the title still wide open, and it’s a very exciting race for me with four clubs still in the hunt for glory.

Chelsea's unbeaten streak at home under Jose Mourinho is an incredible record, and if it remains intact they could go on and win it. But I think it could get broken this weekend, and Arsenal have probably got to win that game to put themselves in the driving seat.

So this weekend we are set for results that could turn things round at the top of the table, and there can be no bigger game than this London derby.

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

But for as much as Chelsea are top and Arsenal are in the hunt, I think the title can go to Manchester City. They have the talent at their disposal that could just tip the balance if they get their act together and finish off the smaller teams. It seems they have most difficulty raising their game against mid-table teams and those fighting for their lives at the bottom.

Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge are bang in form, but they will have to stay fit if Liverpool want to remain contenders. Liverpool are in the hunt if they can keep Suarez and Sturridge fit.

It’s great for the fans of all four clubs; it’s all great for all football neutrals.

Glenn Hoddle is technical director of Football 30, where 80 of the greatest legends from Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham will take part in the Elite Legends Cup at Brisbane Road on May 18. Paolo Di Canio, Teddy Sheringham, Gianfranco Zola and Martin Keown are among the multitude of top stars taking part.