Arsene Wenger's record against Chelsea over the past 20 years reflects the Gunners' rise and decline in the Premier League

Daily Mail | September 23, 2016

To look back at Arsene Wenger's record against Chelsea over the past two decades is to witness one of the clearest illustrations of how the sands have shifted in the Premier League era.

As the Frenchman prepares to celebrate 20 years in charge of Arsenal with a London derby on Saturday evening, his encounters with their west London rivals can roughly be split into two parts.

And it will come as little surprise that those two epochs reflect those of Chelsea's modern history - pre-Abramovich and post-Abramovich.

Arsene Wenger comes to blows with Jose Mourinho on the Stamford Bridge touchline during Chelsea's 2-0 win over Arsenal in October 2014

Early encounters brought consistent success for Wenger as Arsenal challenged for honours

But Chelsea encounters became increasingly agonising for Arsenal and their French manager following the takeover by Roman Abramovich in 2003u00a0 — But Chelsea encounters became increasingly agonising for Arsenal and their French manager following the takeover by Roman Abramovich in 2003

When Wenger arrived at Highbury as a largely unknown manager in October 1996, Arsenal already had the upper hand over Chelsea, something proven by a 3-0 win at Stamford Bridge in his first meeting with them.