Loyal Wenger unmoved by power of Bayern despite knowing he could have been man to deliver killer blow to Gunners tonight

By Neil Ashton

PUBLISHED: 18:36 EST, 12 March 2013 | UPDATED: 05:08 EST, 13 March 2013

At Arsenal’s training ground on Tuesday morning, Arsene Wenger reflected on the multiple job offers he has received from Bayern Munich over the years.

It was a fascinating conversation, particularly when Wenger revealed that the closest he came to joining the German club was when he was in charge of Monaco.

For the first and only time in his managerial career he asked the president of Monaco to release him from his contract. They refused and that was that.

Choices: Arsene Wenger could have become Bayern Munich manager after leaving Monaco

Charges: Jerome Boateng, Arjen Robben and Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (left-right) could have been Wenger's men

Bayern have come calling a few times since, particularly when Wenger really got going at Arsenal with the Double-winning team in 1998.

He has always resisted and at the Gunners’ London Colney training ground on Tuesday he admitted: ‘I can’t remember the details because I always said no to everybody. I always had commitments at Arsenal and I always respected my contract.

'The first time I said “No” was when I was at Monaco. I had one year to go and did not want to extend so I asked the chairman. They did not let me go so I respected my contract. I said no.’

Despite some tough times at Arsenal, particularly since he broke up the Invincibles in 2004, there wasn’t a hint of regret.

As well as Bayern approaching him he has been offered the England and France jobs, and Real Madrid made a move in 2008.

‘You do what your gut feeling tells you and you do what you think is right,’ Wenger added. ‘You believe in the values you have and you do it like that.

‘It is like that in life. You do what you think is right and do not expect anything in return for what you do.’

His loyalty cannot be faulted, but the balance of power in European football has altered dramatically since Arsenal’s appearance in the 2006 Champions League final.

They lost that game, rather unluckily after Jens Lehmann was sent off, and have struggled to make a major impact ever since.

Wenger’s insistence that the cost of the move to the Emirates in 2006 is the overriding reason for their lack of silverware during that period doesn’t wash any more.

Bayern moved to the Allianz Arena – a state-of-the-art stadium in a Munich suburb - in 2005 and haven’t looked back.

Hard ground: Thomas Vermaelen surveys the imposing and impressive Allianz Arena

The Bundesliga side play, just like Arsenal, in front of sell-out crowds every week. Unlike Arsenal, Bayern are a club set up to compete with the very best.

They have been in two of the last three Champions League finals and have won three league titles.
Jupp Heynckes will add another before he leaves at the end of the season and has assembled a team full of talent.

Manuel Neuer is one of the most reliable keepers in the game despite uncharacteristically going walkabout for Arsenal’s goal in the first leg.

Ready to go: Manuel Neuer is one of the finest goalkeepers in the world

Arjen Robben, Philipp Lahm, Tony Kroos and are among the other class acts in the Bayern team. The hosts will not even have Franck Ribery and Bastian Schweinsteiger tonight. It should not even matter.

In front of a packed house, Arsenal will have the withstand the threat of one of the most advanced attacking teams in Europe and after 90 minutes will almost certainly be out cast aside in the second round along with Manchester United, all English interest in the Champions League extinguished before the quarter-finals.

Big night: Theo Walcott (left) and Co will need to turn in the greatest performance of their lives to progress

Wenger will remain true to his principles, with his sense of loyalty rising above everything else in the second leg.

Beyond the inevitable inquest among Arsenal fans, Wenger will be unmoved.

Set in his ways: Wenger will be unmoved, whatever the result