The two managers face off on Tuesday night as
the Spaniard's undefeated Napoli side travel to
north London to take on the Gunners in their
Champions League group clash
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes
Napoli boss Rafa Benitez, who takes on the
Gunners in the Champions League on Tuesday,
was treated harshly by former club Chelsea .
The Spanish boss had an interim stint at
Stamford Bridge last season, leading the Blues
to Europa League glory, but was heavily
criticised and never accepted by the west
London club's supporters.
Asked if Benitez was given a rough ride at
Chelsea, Wenger replied: "Yes. People were
tough with him because they didn't expect him
to go to Chelsea but he did very well. He dealt
well with it.
"In the end, with time going on people will
realise that he did well."
Benitez was appointed at the Stadio San Paolo
in the summer and has yet to see his side lose
this season, and Wenger is anticipating a tough
encounter against a familiar foe.
"I think he is a top-class manager," the
Frenchman continued. "He has proven that. So
when you are confronted with his teams you
know it will always be difficult.
"But we are up for it and we have the
confidence to do it.
"Our home form will be important, we have
taken three points away from home. We know
away from home we are in good form as well
so I believe our home matches against all three
teams will be important."
Arsenal sit top of the Premier League after
taking 15 points from six matches, but Wenger
described talk of his team being favourites for
the Premier League title so early in the season
as "ridiculous".
"I think that our job most importantly is to
find a balance between ambition and humility,"
he added.
"Ambition of course because we want to win
but humility as well because we have only
played six games. So to talk about the title
today is absolutely ridiculous.
"What we have done is just what we want to
do, to continue the same ambition. I think the
team has a good humility level and is keen to
improve."
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