Jamie Carragher has now claimed that recently departed Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has a greater legacy than Arsenal icon Arsene Wenger.

In his extended time in charge of Arsenal, Arsene Wenger was able to have a huge impact on not just the club, but English football itself. 

Jurgen Klopp has undeniably made a huge impression on the Premier League himself. Since taking the reins at Anfield in October 2015, the German coach has won practically everything there is to win, including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League title in 2020.

He may well have won more had his Liverpool side not been up against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Overcoming Guardiola’s all-conquering winning machine of a team is no easy feat, as Mikel Arteta is now discovering for himself, having previously worked as the Spaniard’s assistant at the Etihad Stadium. The Gunners finished second behind the Cityzens in the Premier League this season, just as they did last time out.

Meanwhile, Wenger spent a large chunk of his career as Arsenal manager vying for titles with Sir Alex Ferguson. The North London club enjoyed a fierce rivalry with Manchester United around the turn of the Millennium.

Jamie Carragher sides with Jurgen Klopp over Arsenal great Arsene Wenger

Wenger won all three of his Premier League titles in this period between 1998 and 2004, whilst the Red Devils were crowned champions on the four occasions in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003. The Gunners were runners up in all four of those seasons.

The French coach led Arsenal to their greatest achievement in the club’s history over the course of the 2003/04 campaign. The Gunners went through that Premier League season without losing a single match, on their way to being crowned champions and known forevermore as the Invincibles.

Wenger recently revealed why he believed his Arsenal side to be capable of such a feat in the first place. It remains a unique achievement in Premier League terms. 

However, Jamie Carragher still believes Klopp to be the superior manager. Speaking on Stick to Football, the former Reds defender said: “I would put him [Klopp] above Wenger. The only reason being is the Champions League. They didn’t quite crack that did they, Arsenal? He [Klopp] got to three finals, obviously won it once.”

Arsene Wenger legacy at Arsenal extends far beyond Champions League disappointment

Arsenal did underperform in Europe under Wenger. He led the club to just one Champions League final, in 2006. The Gunners were beaten that night in Paris by Barcelona, who struck a late double to overturn a 1-0 deficit. 

In any case, Arsenal’s longest-serving manager is a club legend who contributed far more than silverware in his time in charge. He revolutionised the club, introducing an entertaining new style of play, embracing foreign transfers, applying novel training and diet methods, and overseeing the move to the Emirates Stadium.

There is now, quite rightly, a statue of Wenger outside of the stadium he helped build.