TodayArsenal vs Wigan 20:30 SS3Reading vs Man City 21:00LONDON. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has insisted long-time rival Alex Ferguson’s decision to retire as Manchester United manager was no surprise to him.Ferguson, 71, announced last week he would retire at the end of this season after more than 26 years, and 38 trophies won, at Old Trafford.He bows out with United having regained the Premier League title and will be succeeded after the end of the current campaign by David Moyes, presently manager of Everton.Wenger and Ferguson had an especially fiery relationship during the late 1990s and early 200s when their two clubs were contesting the Premier League title although passions have cooled during Arsenal’s ongoing run of eight years without a trophy.The Frenchman said he had long suspected this would be the 71-year-old Ferguson’s final season in charge of United.“I told my staff a long time ago I think that it will be Alex Ferguson’s last year, so I was not completely surprised,” said Wenger, who talked directly to Ferguson in pre-season as the Scot looked to push through then Arsenal striker Robin van Persie’s £24 million move to United“I detected a few signs through the season, there was already one of them before the season started, that it could be his final year,” Wenger added Monday.“After 26 years, he just won the championship, he knows it will be more difficult even for Man United to have that consistency now because there are so many teams who have financial power. Wenger is in line to replace Ferguson as the longest-serving manager in the Premier League after taking charge of Arsenal in 1996.
