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Wenger receives engraved gift from Fergie

As the 2017-18 football season draws to a close, so also does Arsene Wenger’s time at Arsenal Football Club.

The longest-standing manager in the Premier League, he took over at the North London club in 1996 and led the team to ten major trophies, including seven FA Cups.

Bringing together top talent (often from France), new training regimes, diet programmes and mind coaching, he pioneered a new style of football in England, and won a slew of trophies for the Gunners.

The most successful manager in Arsenal history, his 2004 side was known as The Invincibles for never losing a game, and created new records in the number of games going unbeaten.

But, as every protagonist knows, they are often measured in comparison to their greatest antagonist. And, for Arsene Wenger, it was most definitely Sir Alex Ferguson.

Managing to top two teams in the Premier League respectively, the two managers were each others’ greatest adversaries and were known for taking aim at the other in match interviews.

With Sir Alex advising Arsene to stick to Japanese football (a country which he had previously managed in) and the Frenchman exclaiming that he will “never speak about that man again”, relations between the two were frosty at best.

However, with time comes understanding. And as Mr Wenger made his last visit to Old Trafford, it was Sir Alex who was there to present the manager with a farewell gift.

Before the game, an extremely large commemorative trophy was presented to Arsene Wenger.

As per all the best gifts, on it was engraved: “Presented to Arsene Wenger by Sir Alex Ferguson CBE and Jose Mourinho, on behalf of Manchester United Football Club in recognition of his services and achievements at Arsenal Football Club. 1996 to 2018.”

It even changed hands with a smile and a nod between the two men.

So there you have it. If you want to build bridges and create a sense of nostalgia, look no further than a personalised pocket watch, engraved cufflinks or custom hip flask… and you can make your own history too.