The historic milestones arrive regularly these days for Arsene Wenger and, as he prepares tomorrow night to equal Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 810 Premier League games, it was somehow fitting that he should blend his reminisces with a pointed riposte at another great nemesis.

Jose Mourinho had complained on Boxing Day that Manchester United’s vast spending since he became manager was inadequate and, in digesting that observation, Wenger’s grin spoke volumes. The Frenchman’s greatest team were of course ultimately toppled by Mourinho’s Chelsea side, with the Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein then describing Roman Abramovich as “parking his Russian tank in our front garden and firing £50 notes at us”.

It was the biggest single external change in Wenger’s Arsenal tenure and it has been compounded since 2007 by the arrival at Manchester City of another multi-billionaire benefactor.

“I have always had one team at least – sometimes four – who were richer than I was, so I learned to cope with that,” said Wenger. “I will not start to complain now. What is most important is that you deal with your own situation and, yes, Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United are richer than us.

“People don’t want to know about that. They want you to win the games. We still have to find a way to be successful.”