Mark Hughes: 'Arsene Wenger is an outstanding manager'

Southampton boss Mark Hughes has said that Arsenal counterpart Arsene Wenger is an "outstanding" manager ahead of the clash between the pair on Sunday.

The two men meet at the Emirates Stadium this weekend, with the Saints requiring a win to ignite their push for Premier League survival.

Hughes, whose relationship with Wenger in football goes back over 10 years, told Sky Sports News that the Frenchman has excelled in his time at Arsenal.

"He's done a remarkable job," the Saints boss said. "He's an outstanding manager and has been for a huge number of years.

"I'm a manager as well so I know how difficult it is to have longevity in your career, and he trumps me by about 10-15 years, so he's not doing bad.

"I've got the utmost respect for Arsene. Don't get me wrong, he wants to win and so do I and sometimes we probably get a little bit silly, but there you go. [It's] not always on my instigation, by the way."

Southampton are three points adrift of safety heading into Sunday's clash in North London.