Arsenal's Wenger equals Ferguson record in the Premier League

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Arsenal's Wenger equals Ferguson record in the Premier League image

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will equal a Premier League record when he takes the bench for his 810th Premier League game on Thursday. 

The Gunners visit Crystal Palace in a game vital to their hopes of keeping touch with the top four. 

Victory would see Arsenal draw level with Tottenham in fifth, while Liverpool occupy the last Champions League qualifying spot four points ahead. 

But while Wenger's mind will be focused on three points, he must nevertheless be aware that the clash sees him draw level with great Manchester United adversary Sir Alex Ferguson as the manager who has directed most matches in Premier League history. 

Fergie was in charge at Old Trafford when the Premier League kicked off in 1992-3, and kept that post until his retirement in 2013. 

Wenger, meanwhile, has been at Arsenal since 1996, and signed a new contract extension at the Emirates Stadium despite growing opposition to his two-decade tenure. 

If total league matches are taken into account, however, the Frenchman still trails by some way.

Ferguson also managed in 223 First Division matches for a total of 1,033 in the English top flight, a mark that would take Wenger almost six further seasons to overcome.

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