Southampton manager Claude Puel has praised Arsene Wenger for the "example" he set him at Monaco ahead of the Saints' match away to Arsenal on Saturday.
Puel, 54, had seven seasons as a player under Wenger at Monaco but this weekend will see him come up against long-serving Arsenal boss for the first time in a managerial career that dates back to 1999.
It was Wenger whom Puel consulted before joining south coast club Southampton in June, with his fellow Frenchman encouraging him to come to England.
"Before signing for Southampton I spoke with him about the possibilities to coach in England," Puel said on Friday.
"He said to me it would be a very good challenge to coach in England in the greatest championship in the world.
"It was important to sign for Southampton and to play against these managers."
Puel added: "Arsene Wenger was my trainer during seven years at Monaco. It (is) a pleasure to see him on the other bench.
"We didn't get the possibilities in the past to play against each other (as managers) in the Champions League for example.
"He played an important role at the beginning of my career. He was an example for me with his personality, his character and his qualities as a manager."
Meanwhile Puel said defender Jeremy Pied, signed by Southampton in pre-season, would be out for between six to nine months with a knee injury.
"(It is a) big injury, a blow for him and the team," said Puel, who also coached Pied at Nice and Lyon.
"He will be important for the squad but that's life and a career of a player. Perhaps he comes back in six months to nine months. We don't know.
"Hopefully he can come back to help us in difficult games," he added.
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