Sir Alex Ferguson has hailed Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger as 'fantastic' and says he is right not to change the way he manages because of criticism.

The former Manchester United manager, who long battled with the Frenchman on the sidelines, admires the fact that Wenger has been bold.

'He's been fantastic,' he was quoted as saying in the Champions League 2016 final programme.

Sir Alex Ferguson (right) says Arsene Wenger is 'fantastic' and the criticism he has received has been wrong

'Now he gets a lot of criticism, but I admire that that you're not going to bend to the will of the critics. He stays with what he believes in. And I think people who do that are outstanding coaches,' he said.

It was that type of attitude that enabled Ferguson to guide United to 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cup trophies and two Champions League crowns between 1986 and 2013.

Arsenal finished second in the Premier League last season when they overtook north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur on the final day.

Wenger guided Arsenal to the Premier League title for the third time in 2004 after going the season unbeaten

A section of Gunners supporters voiced their anger at Wenger towards the end of the season when it was confirmed that they wouldn't be able to catch Leicester City to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004.

WENGER ARSENAL HONOURS Premier League (3): 1997-98, 2001-02 and 2003-04 FA Cup (6): 1997-98, 2001-02, 2002-03, 2004-05, 2013-14 and 2014-15 FA Community Shield (6): 1998, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2014 and 2015 Advertisement

Some fans produced banners that called for the 66-year-old manager to leave. One read: 'All good things must come to an end... Wenger Out,' while another simply read, 'Time for change.'

Indeed, a large number supporters have stuck with Wenger and remain happy with him as manager.

Ferguson believes that Wenger, who has already made his first signing of the summer by parting with £35million for defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka, should be trusted to keep the same approach as he always has done. After all, he says, he did lead Arsenal to the Premier League title without losing a game in 2003-04 season.

Wenger gesticulates on the touchline as his side beat Norwich to all but cement another top four finish

A section of Arsenal supporters have called for Wenger to leave after 20 years in charge of the Gunners

He said: 'When you talk about consistency, Arsene's never changed the way that his side has played. I think he inherited a team when he first came to Arsenal with Steve Bould and Martin Keown and Tony Adams - fantastic warriors - but his team evolved when they started getting players like Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Emmanuel Petit, Sylvain Wiltord. There was a change in the culture of the team.