Wenger's respect for Ryan

Arsene Wenger may have been on the receiving end of Ryan Giggs' famous semi-final goal in 1999 - but the Arsenal boss isn't bitter.

Instead, the Gunners manager has nothing but respect for United's newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year and his awesome longevity - Giggs could make his historic 800th appearance for the Reds, in Wednesday night's showdown with Wenger's side.

"I have a big respect for Ryan Giggs because he started his career in 1991 and we are now in 2009," said an impressed Arsene in his pre-match press conference at Old Trafford.

"When a guy has played 18 years at that level, you have to have complete respect. The focus and the sacrifices that it demands to be at the top level for 18 years are massive.

"Now he has been named Player of the Year and there has been a big debate (about that). OK, maybe this hasn't been the best year of his career but the only miracle is not that he got it this year, it's that he never got it before."

Giggs was 25 when he scored the stunning solo goal to knock Arsenal out of the FA Cup just over ten years ago; many of Wenger's current players are still younger than that and he is hoping they are now on the verge of something special. He accepts the "Arsenal are still developing, still maturing, maybe next year" mantra is past its sell-by date now.

"This is the moment when we want to show we have what is needed," he said.

"We have built a young team because we wanted to develop a special way of playing and a special spirit.



"Our players have been educated together from the age of 16 to 23, 24 and we think there is something special (about them) which we hope will come out at this level of the competition. This is the moment we've waited for."


If Wenger's youngsters can upset the form book and defeat United over two legs, they will be a step closer to compensating for the pain of a European Cup final defeat to Barcelona in 2006.


"The 2006 campaign was special because the only game we lost in the Champions League that year was the final and we were 1-0 up until 13 minutes. The only regret we have for that day is that we played with only ten men," reflected Wenger.


"It's part of a career, to swallow a disappointment and then use that as the spark to come back even stronger. That's what we're trying to do."


Wenger is famously two-nil down to Sir Alex Ferguson in terms of triumphs in this competition. But the Arsenal manager continues to believe that he will one day emulate his rival's successes in Barcelona and Moscow.


"I am an optimist. I believe I will win it and the sooner, the better. That is why I am here with complete belief.


"But in fairness as well, I am at the stage of my career when I am more focused on doing it for my club, for my players and for the fans than I am for myself. I've had the luck to stay at the same club for 12 years.


"I know how much it means to the club and the players, and I am focusing all the energy I have to the team."