Arsenal great Bob Wilson broke down in tears as he revealed Arsene Wenger helped him and his wife cope with the tragic loss of their daughter by talking about 'the human spirit'.

Wenger sent shock waves through the footballing world on Friday when he announced he will end his 22-year reign as Arsenal manager at the end of this season.

And former Gunners shotstopper, Wilson - who made 234 appearances for Arsenal between the sticks before working as an unpaid goalkeeping coach under Wenger - labelled him 'one of the three greatest men I have ever met in my life' as he paid an emotional tribute to the 'human being' and manager.

Bob Wilson struggled to hold back the tears as he paid tribute to the departing Arsene Wenger

'I'm in shock,' Wilson told BBC Radio 5 Live. 'I only heard one minute ago, I had hoped he would go after winning the cup final last year which was three cup finals in four years and 10 trophies in 20 years.

'I was there on the day he arrived, I was still the goalkeeping coach then and he is without doubt one of the three greatest men I have ever met in my life.

'And I'm not talking just about his football knowledge and how he changed the game in this country but outside as a human being and through difficult times with me and my wife when we lost our daughter.

Wilson pictured with wife Meg Wilson and children (left to right) John Wilson, Anna Wilson (Died 12/98) and Robert Wilson

'He was extraordinary, in that time particularity I remember when we went on pre-season tour because I was the unpaid goalkeeping coach in those days and we used to go to Austria in pre-season and then we would finish the training session and get on the coach but Arsene said no Bob you come and sit with me and we would talk about Anna (Wilson's late daughter) and then he would talk about human spirit and yeah, sorry it is emotional for me.'

A tearful Wilson continued: 'First of all he is the greatest manager in the history of Arsenal football club, even above Herbert Chapman.

'But Arsene has not only been the greatest Arsenal manager in history but he has personally changed the face of the game in this country.

An emotional Wilson said Wenger helped him and his wife when they lost their daughter, Anna

'Initially when he was at Monaco and then he went to Japan and when he came here it was sort of a big joke, with the "Arsene who?" But it seemed like a good fit, Arsene and Arsenal and then he changed everything.

'We had a team who liked a drink, and then it was the psychology of it, the hydration of it, the training and everybody else followed suit and then in our old training ground he said this isn't good enough for Arsenal and immediately his focus was on building a new training ground and everybody else has followed that template.

'And then he said look we can't compete with only 38,000 people at Highbury - best stadium in the country - but he said we must have a bigger stadium so then it went into that and everybody else has followed suit.

Wilson made 234 appearances in between the sticks for Arsenal between 1963-1974

Before working as a goalkeeper coach when the Frenchman took charge of Arsenal

'His mark on the game in this country I can't tell you, the most humbling thing, when I get invited very regularly into the director's box he appears in that director's box 20 minutes before they kick the ball to kick-off the game to say hello to people, say thank you to people being here, how are you, whatever, but Arsene goes around that director's box.

'I don't know another manager that does anything like that and that's just an insight into his humanity and as I say I have had the privilege to get to know him in a very very special way.'

Wilson says he wanted Wenger to leave after last year's FA Cup triumph

The 68-year-old manager unexpectedly told the club's website he felt it was the right time to step down on Friday which has left his players and staff in a state of shock.

The Gunners are hoping the announcement will ignite the club's hopes of winning the Europa League as Wenger looks to go out on high.

His former captain Patrick Vieira, Carlo Ancelotti and Brendan Rodgers are being touted as the early leading candidates to succeed him at Arsenal.