Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown believes Arsene Wenger
has laid the foundations to make the Gunners "bigger than Real
Madrid and Manchester United".
The highly-respected French coach has signed a new three-year deal
with the north London club, where he has brought unprecedented
success since his arrival just over a decade ago.
Keown, 41, made more than 400 appearances for the Gunners and was
an integral part of the success under Wenger, who secured three
Premier League titles and four FA Cup triumphs as well as guiding
his side to the final of the Champions League in 2006.
The defender - who left the Gunners in the summer of 2004 before
brief stints at Leicester and Reading - firmly believes Wenger can
now go on and take Arsenal to another level.
"Arsene Wenger's decision to sign a new deal is great news with
everyone associated with Arsenal," said Keown.
"Wenger has four more years and I think they will be his best
years."
Keown told BBC Radio Five Live: "Wenger's challenge will now be to
make the Gunners bigger than Real Madrid and Manchester United -
and he has given himself every chance.
"Now that he's committed, he can continue to develop this young,
capable team.
"The club has transformed into something completely
different.
"He has more experience now, the team are playing at a new improved
venue and there has been talk of new investment.
"I reckon it's going to be quite an exciting time at the Emirates
Stadium."
Nigel Winterburn was another who enjoyed great success under
Wenger, winning the double with the Gunners in 1998.
The defender, 43, believes Wenger's knack for developing talent
cannot be overstated.
"The signings he brought to the club have been young athletic
players, not the finished article, but when they do leave the
football club they are world stars," Winterburn told Sky Sports
News.
"He has brought players like (Thierry) Henry, Patrick Vieira, Kolo
Toure, Cesc Fabregas - all who turned out to be big stars and will
be big stars of the future.
"He has not spent vast amounts of money in bringing those players
to the club, but if he was to sell them, like Fabregas or Gael
Clichy, he would get unbelievable money for them.
"Arsene has got such a great knowledge of the game around the world
that he manages to get these players in."
Winterburn believes Wenger is a class apart when it comes to man
management.
"When Arsene Wenger first came to the club, most players had not
heard of him," the defender said.
"We started to do a lot more ball work, and some of the training
was more scientific.
"But the most important thing is that he just said to us: 'Go and
express yourself on the football pitch. I believe in you, I know
you are good players - do not play with any fear."'
Winterburn believes Wenger is capable of moulding another
all-conquering team.
He said: "Arsene is almost building his third football team here,
and the finishing touch will be that they have to go on and win the
Premier League within the next three years."