Arsene Wenger's career as Arsenal manager should best be defined by his incredible rivalry with Sir Alex Ferguson. Things could have been a lot different if the Frenchman had taken the chance to replace the legendary Scot.
In the late 90s and early 00s only Manchester United and Arsenal could win the Premier League, only Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger mattered, it was a wonderful time in an incredibly intense and passionate rivalry.
When Arsene Wenger does leave Arsenal at the end of the season all the vitriol and disappointment that has shrouded the later years of his time in the Premier League will hopefully disappear allowing us all to remember only those good times.
His battles with Fergie were legendary and the sides' battles at Old Trafford especially spring to mind, the time Arsenal won the title there, the Battle of Pizza, Martin Keown jumping on Ruud van Nistelrooy and the 8-2.
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However things could have been very different. Ahead of the two sides meeting once again in Manchester the departing Arsenal manager explained he had the chance to join the Red Devils in the early 2000s when Fergie nearly retired and had no regrets that he'd turned down the advances, saying:
"No, because Arsenal is the love of my life. I turned many, many, many clubs down to stay here and to face the challenge when we built the [Emirates] stadium.
"I don't regret that because it's just the way I see my life and what is important to me.
"Yes, I met [then United chairman] Martin Edwards but many people came to see me at my home, but I was always loyal to this club."
Fergie announced his retirement initially at the start of the 2001/02 season after the Red Devils had become the first side in the Premier League era to win the title three years in a row.
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It proved to be a disaster as United couldn't defend the title and instead lost out to Arsenal. In the end the legendary manager changed his mind and went on to win another six Premier League titles and another Champions League trophy.
Sven Goran Eriksson is also believed to have been approached for the job but had Wenger taken the job then maybe Fergie wouldn't have been able to change his mind and then lord knows what would have happened.
On Sunday Wenger gets the goodbye from the stadium that most defines his career, and it's not even Arsenal's!
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Premier League, England, Arsenal