Arsene Wenger turns 67 on Saturday but says any celebrations are entirely dependent on how tomorrow’s game against Middlesbrough goes.

It seems the Arsenal manager had forgotten it was his birthday, and he believes that his age is something he has to battle against as he gets older.

“I forgot about that!” he said when reminded of the fact. “Your age quickly becomes a psychological excuse to get rid of you. It’s like being a player.

“Once you get to a certain age you have a bad game and they think: ‘You have to go.’ That’s why the demands are even higher than before.

“I live in a competitive world and it’s down to what I produce that has to be judged. My age should not interfere with that, but if you don’t do well the age quickly becomes the problem.”

And despite earlier refusing to expand on his intentions when it comes to a new contract, it’s clear a life without football is something that concerns him.

“Nobody lives a whole life by being motivated by the next game, stops suddenly and goes to church every day,” he continued.

“If God exists and one day I go up there and he will ask: ‘Do you want to come in? What have you done in your life?’ And the only answer I will have is: ‘I tried to win football games.’

“He will say: ‘Is that all you have done?’ And the only answer I will have is: ‘It’s not as easy as it looks.’”

I mean, what can you say to that? Brilliant.

“I believe that you forget your age if you are in good health and all the rest inside you is a love for competition and a love to improve every day,” he said.

“I never liked the retirement word. We are there to be active and to fight. Life is no other issue than to fight until the last day of your life as much as you can.”

Whatever side of the Wenger fence you’re on, he is a unique character with a fantastic turn of phrase.

Let’s hope he has a very happy birthday tomorrow, because that will mean we’ve got another three points under our belt.