Arsene Wenger will take charge of Arsenal for the 1,000th
time when they visit Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Frenchman took on the role of manager in 1996, when
Arsenal called Highbury home, were yet to qualify for the UEFA Champions League
and Ian Wright was leading the line.
Wenger has since gone on to win three Premier League
titles, qualify for 15 consecutive Champions League tournaments and lift four
FA Cups, but claims the time has flown by.
He told Arsenal's official website: "It makes you
feel 'where did the time go?' It looks to me like I started yesterday, I can't
believe it is such a long time.
"Why? Because you're always focused on looking
forward to the next game and when you look back you think I made quite a
distance there.
"Despite that, your only interest is the next game,
our drug is the next game, the hope for the next game, the desire to win the
next one."
Wenger's "drug" this week is the prospect of a
trip to league leaders Chelsea and, while Arsenal have a game in hand over Jose
Mourinho's men, defeat would be a bitter pill to swallow as he chases his first
silverware in nine years.
Chelsea come into this clash off the back of a
comfortable UEFA Champions League victory over Galatasaray, which saw them sail
into the competition's quarter-finals, but they will be keen for a return to
winning ways on the domestic front after losing 1-0 at Aston Villa last time
out - a match they ended with nine men and with Mourinho sitting in the stands.
The Portuguese has since been charged with improper
conduct for encroaching on the field of play and has been given until Monday to
respond, but expressed earlier this week that he would be delighted to emulate
his opposite number's achievement.
"If Chelsea gives me the chance to arrive to 1,000
matches, I'll be the happiest manager in the world," he said.
Arsenal's midfield injury troubles continue with Aaron
Ramsey (thigh), Mesut Ozil (hamstring) and Jack Wilshere (foot) all ruled out,
but Kim Kallstrom could be in line for his first inclusion in the matchday
squad since joining the club on loan in January.
David Luiz was fit enough to make the bench for Tuesday's
Champions League clash and may take his place in the starting XI on Saturday,
while Ashley Cole (knee) remains a doubt after missing the second leg against
Galatasaray.
Brazilian duo Willian and Ramires are both suspended
following their dismissals against Villa.
Culled from Soccerway
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