Arsène Wenger will take charge of Arsenal for the 1,000th time on Saturday when they visit Chelsea in what is another crucial Premier League fixture for the Gunners.
Wenger is the longest-serving manager in English football's top flight by a considerable distance, following Sir Alex Ferguson's retirement and David Moyes' departure from Everton last year. Alan Pardew, appointed Newcastle manager in December 2010, is second to the Frenchman and Wenger is likely to extend his north London stay beyond the summer.
Those were the days when Arsenal had a title-winning side
Since he arrived from Japan in 1996, Wenger has effected the English game considerably. In an ideal world, he would be the next England coach. A believer in youth and loyalty, it has often been his undoing over the last nine years, but his first nine years at Highbury were an extraordinary success.
And ahead of his four-figure milestone, here is his all-time Arsenal XI...