Arsene Wenger has been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame alongside Manchester United rival Sir Alex Ferguson. The two legendary figures become the first managers to be awarded the league's highest individual honour.
The Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates individuals who have an exceptional record of success and have made a significant contribution to the Premier League since its inception in 1992. Wenger spent a record 22 seasons with Arsenal and is the most successful manager in the club's history.
Wenger remains the only manager in Premier League history to manage a team that won the title while remaining unbeaten throughout the entire campaign - leading to the 2003/04 Arsenal team being labelled as 'The Invincibles'. Arriving as one of the first foreign managers in the Premier League in 1996, Wenger's impact as manager of the Gunners was outstanding before he left his role in 2018.
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A Premier League statement read: "Legendary managers Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger have today been inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame.
"The duo created a remarkable legacy with Manchester United and Arsenal respectively, winning a combined 16 Premier League titles as they established one of the most famed rivalries in the League's history. The Hall of Fame recognises and celebrates individuals who have an exceptional record of success and have made a significant contribution to the Premier League since its inception in 1992. It is the highest individual honour awarded by the League."
After being inducted into the Premier League Hall of Fame, Wenger said: "I am very grateful to have been selected for the Premier League Hall of Fame.
"We always wanted to give something special to the fans and when you have players capable of remarkable things, the most important thing for me is the obligation of perfection. I'd like to be known as someone who loved Arsenal, who respected the values of the club and left it in a position where it can grow and become even bigger.
"To share this with Sir Alex is a great honour for me. It's like two boxers, you fight like mad and go the distance together.
"At the end of the day, you have respect and it will be a great opportunity to meet with him, share a good bottle of wine and memories of our old battles."
Wenger and Ferguson had countless battles throughout their time in the Premier League and are two of the best managers to ever grace the Premier League. Mikel Arteta is hoping to replicate Wenger's success at the Emirates Stadium with Arsenal currently eight points clear of Manchester City in the title race heading into the final 10 games of the season.
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: "We are delighted to welcome our first two managers into the Premier League Hall of Fame. Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger both made a remarkable contribution to the history of football in this country.
"They brought unparalleled levels of success to Manchester United and Arsenal respectively, raising standards and thrilling fans with a rivalry which resulted in an astonishing 16 title wins between them.
"The dominance of Manchester United under Sir Alex remains unmatched after he guided them to an incredible 13 titles across 21 Premier League seasons. To maintain that level of success for such a long period means he is quite rightly regarded as one of the greatest managers of all time.
"Arsene was an innovator who was well ahead of his time, bringing numerous changes to Arsenal that would be replicated at other clubs. His teams played some of the best football we have ever witnessed and the Invincibles season is not only one of the greatest accomplishments in English football, but sport in general."
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