Arsene Wenger should walk out at the Etihad today with a lump in his throat.

The Frenchman ought to be welling up – a tear in his eye for what might have been.

The stage is set for Manchester City to put on their Sunday best and for Pep Guardiola to place his rival’s title of “Le Professeur” under the closest scrutiny.

Because the Spaniard has ­accomplished in 18 months what Wenger has failed to achieve ever since the end of the Invincibles.

Playing beautiful, winning football. With a swagger.

Wenger shakes hands with Guardiola (
Image:
Getty)
City have been in devastating form (
Image:
AFP)

And, although spending in the ­footballing arms race has gone nuclear during Guardiola’s stint in charge, the lesson will surely not be lost on Arsenal’s boss.

When Wenger decided to follow the Barcelona blueprint, set down by the Catalan, what he will see produced must, surely, have been what he had in mind.

Watching Manchester City tear Napoli to pieces in midweek was just the latest marker.

The leaders in Serie A have gone the way of so many this season. They are just the latest victims in a ­not-so-exclusive club. Of course, it is way too early to start handing out the gongs for Manchester City.

We haven’t even celebrated Bonfire Night yet.

City beat Napoli in midweek (
Image:
AFP/Getty)
The manager rejoines with the fans at fulltime (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)
Arsenal stuttered against Red Star Belgrade on Thursday (
Image:
PA)

But a fire has definitely been lit under the Premier League and people are now talking about Guardiola & Co in the way they have, at times during the past decade or so, talked about Arsenal.

Note the use of the phrase “at times”.

It has not been consistent enough or convincing enough. Certainly, against the top teams.

It is why they remain eternal ­bridesmaids in the Premier League. They will whack the Bournemouths of this world by three or four.

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But then, when it comes to a scrap with Chelsea or Manchester United, invariably their opponents are bigger and stronger and are matched up in terms of firepower.

Wenger discarded such traits as strength, bottle, belief and character.

Instead, he concentrated on passing, moving and the kind of technical ­players he believed football would be dominated by. Of course, he has been proved right. The group fielded by Guardiola at the Nou Camp contained ­once-in-a-lifetime players.

However, the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi just do not come along every day.

Guardiola with Messi (
Image:
Getty)
Barcelona celebrate their Champions League win (
Image:
Getty)

It was absolutely right to centre the foundations of any side on stars such as those.

But you still need character and discipline if you are going to truly mix it.

At the Emirates, Wenger has done only half the job – and that must be killing him.

Watching Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane, David Silva and the rest is like peering into the mirror and seeing a reflection of your better-looking ­brother staring back at you.

When push comes to shove, Arsenal melt like a Mars bar in front of a hot fire.

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And the one theme that returns to haunt almost every other boss out there is the fact that they claim they do not have time.

Wenger cannot use that as any sort of defence.

He has had money, he has had time. He has chosen not to spend it.

And, anyway, while Guardiola has blown a phenomenal chunk of money on ­full-backs, it should be remembered that Fabian Delph is currently ­deputising for Bernjamin Mendy.

Not that you would know it.

Arsene Wenger looks on (
Image:
Bryn Lennon)
City top the table (
Image:
PA)

Personally, I would like to have seen – and I know it will never happen – Guardiola taking on a job at, say, ­Southampton.

They have decent players, a ­competitive budget and a production line from their academy.

That would have shown us all just how good he is.

For the moment, we will all have to buckle up and enjoy the ride at the Etihad.

Even if Arsenal manage to rip up the formbook and produce the ­unexpected in Manchester, will the Gunners end up as the nearest challengers to Guardiola?

Or, come to think of it, Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United?

No. Wenger will smile after winning one battle, however, he will eventually lose the war.

The Arsenal boss was once revered for his approach in this country – but ­Guardiola is now showing him how it really should be done.

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