Donnish Wenger light years away from your average British football coach

AS Arsenal prepare to wrap up the English Premier League, let's begin with a little name-dropping.

I am acquainted with Arsene Wenger and that's a lot more than almost 100 per cent of Highbury's fervent fans were when the Frenchman was first appointed. A particular enthusiastic, Hong Kong-based supporter of the Gunners echoed the thoughts of his home-based comrades when he asked me: 'Who's he?' It was a pleasure to assure him that, in my humble opinion, the unknown Mr Wenger would do a fine job for Arsenal. He was not to be put off by the fact that the man in question was plying his trade in Japan where, despite its initial success, the J.League is not exactly the mecca of football.

One's small triumphs are few enough so when Arsenal duly wrap it up tonight, it will be a pleasure to talk to my friend of Wenger's magnificent contribution to the cause.

We actually met briefly at Malmo airport during the European Championships in Sweden when he was coaching Monaco with great success. A further get-together followed in America when he working was in Japan.

Debonair, articulate and with an encyclopedic knowledge of the game, Wenger is enjoyable company, although there remains the donnish look about him even when the discussions touch on lighter topics.

But the real point is that Wenger has basically transformed the thinking in relation to top-level British football.