English FA Premiership: Jon Brodkin finds Arsene Wenger reluctant to dwell upon a decade of stylish success at Arsenal

When Arsene Wenger reaches the 10th anniversary of his confirmation as Arsenal manager on Thursday, he will not glance at the medals he has won to reflect on his achievements. "I must have some but I don't know where they are," he said yesterday. The Frenchman may be consumed by football but only the present and future matter to him, not the past.

Those who imagine his north London home to be filled with trophies and memorabilia from his successful 22 years in management and a modest playing career are in for a shock. Wenger is not one to wallow in what has happened when there are challenges to meet, today's being to defeat Sheffield United and win a first league match at the Emirates Stadium.

"In my office you would see I am a football manager but nowhere else in my house," he said. Others can celebrate his 10 years at Arsenal for him. "It doesn't have any special meaning to me because what is important to me only is tomorrow's game.

"I have never been somebody who collected prizes or photos. I have nothing at home at all. The only thing that is interesting to me is the future, to always turn to the next game and show you have improved. That's why time passes quickly."

His time at Arsenal has passed fruitfully, too. He has won three championships, four FA Cups and guided the club to a first European Cup final. Both with Monaco and in Japan he collected two trophies, but no sooner are the deeds done than they are forgotten. There is no cabinet for medals chez Wenger.

"I give them (away) sometimes. The one from the Champions League final I didn't even take home, I think," the 56-year-old said. "I don't know who has got it. I am not interested in that at all. Sometimes to my family I give a lot but when I give it to them they keep it so it is not like throwing it away."

He can imagine a time when he may want those medals. "When I don't work any more and I sit there living in the past, maybe I will try to put things together, but at the moment, no," he said. "What is important is Sheffield United, and if everybody could forget I have been here for 10 years I would be happy."

He will not consider it his 10th anniversary at Arsenal until October 1st, when he signed his initial contract. Although reluctant to look back, he did reflect on his outstanding highs and lows. The disappointments featured the 2001 FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool "when we should have been 5-0 up" and the Champions League quarter-final defeat to Chelsea three years later. "We had such an immaculate season and we would have had Monaco in the next game," he said. "We would have been favourites."

The "immaculate" referred to Arsenal's league form during that campaign, which they completed unbeaten. For Wenger that run, which ended after 49 matches, has provided the most satisfaction. "To start the season and finish the season without losing a game, that is where you feel closest to doing a good job because there is not much room for improvement," he said.

His journey from "Arsene who?" to one of England's most respected managers has featured stylish football as well as trophies. "That's your target as a manager," he said. "You want to give to people who come to watch the game."

He ruled out another 10 years at Arsenal but reflected on his "deep attachment" and "love story" with the club.

"I said to my wife I will stop at 50, after I said at 55, and now I don't know . . ." He sees similarities with his opposite number today, Neil Warnock, who will be taking charge of his 1,000th game.

"He is certainly a completely different personality to me but he has the same passion," said Wenger. "To make 1,000 games you have to survive many bad periods without giving up."

These are testing times for those perceived guilty of wrongdoing from BBC's Panorama programme on bungs.

"I am against the quick TV judgment that can tarnish people's reputation without proving anything," said Wenger. "It looks like Middle Age justice. You burn someone quickly to satisfy people. But nothing has been proved so you are not justified to do it."

Nevertheless he wants anyone who has taken illicit payments to be punished.

Arsenal fans will be justified in celebrating Wenger's 10 years in charge, even if the manager would rather not.

Guardian Service