And the Sunderland manager says that although he will doing everything he can to ruin the Frenchman's day, he will always have the greatest of respect for a boss to whom he owes a massive debt of gratitude.

In fact Bruce credits Wenger with playing a pivotal role in helping Bruce get Birmingham City back in the top flight in 2007, when they finished runners-up to Sunderland in the Championship.

"I get on well with Arsene, and of all the managers he's probably helped me the most," revealed Bruce.

"He helped me get promoted with Birmingham by giving me three players on loan in one season – Nicklas Bendtner, Fabrice Muamba and Sebastian Larsson – and I'll always be grateful for that.

"They were arguably my three best players that season, so they had a massive influence on getting the club up."

Bruce reckons Wenger deserves to be considered one of the game's all-time great managers for his achievements with Arsenal over the last 13 years.

During that time, the Londoners have won three Premier League titles and four FA Cups, as well as reaching the Champions League final.

But perhaps their greatest achievement is in producing so many individually gifted footballers, as well as a free-flowing, exciting style of football which is world-famous.

Bruce said: "Arsenal are an exceptionally young, gifted team, and the fella in charge is bordering on a genius.

"He's produced team after team, sold player after player, and yet always managed to find other players to take their place.

"He's quite an incredible manager, and with his current crop of players the future looks very, very healthy indeed for Arsenal.

"He's got to be up there with the greats because of how his teams play and the way he keeps on producing players and teams."

Arsenal have not won a trophy for four years, and many pundits have said that barren spell has put Wenger under heavy pressure to lift silverware this season. But Bruce disagrees.

He said: "People say Arsene and Arsenal need to win something this season, but I don't think so.

"They haven't won anything for four or five years, but they have been through a long transitional period, and in that time they've moved to a new stadium and sold some big players.

"But the one thing Arsene has always done is produce more great young players.

"Certainly the Arsenal fans would love to see their team win a trophy, but I am also sure they are delighted with their club and the way it is run – it's a flagship club in football.

"As for us, we're under no illusions, we know it will be tough taking on the sort of side that Arsenal are.

"People were maybe a bit dismissive of them at the start of the season, but they are second in the league and scoring a stack of goals, knocking in fours and fives, and because of where they are now as we approach December they genuinely have to be considered as potential champions.

"But we are building a good record at home right now, and we've played well against several top teams already, so hopefully we can do the same against against Arsenal this weekend and make everyone sit up and take notice again."