TONY Mowbray has described Arsene Wenger as a 'visionary' manager and is relishing the chance to pit his wits against him on the big stage on Saturday (ko 12.45pm).

The Baggies boss is an admirer of the stylish way the Frenchman has brought success to Arsenal.

But Mowbray will be hoping to cause an upset when he takes his Albion side to the Emirates Stadium, especially with the Gunners' injury problems.

Kolo Toure (hip) and Samir Nasri (knee/thigh) are hopeful of returning in time but Cesc Fabregas (hamstring), Abou Diaby (thigh), Tomas Rosicky (hamstring) and Eduardo (leg) have all been ruled out of the live TV encounter.

Phillipe Senderos (hamstring) is also a doubt.

"Arsene Wenger has really raised the bar in terms of management and the studiousness and science of the game," said Mowbray.

"Everybody else has had to be more professional and organised.

"The search for knowledge has been greater after the arrival of people like Arsene Wenger.

"The days of Mike Bassett, England manager, are a thing of the past - writing your team on the back of a fag packet and all that.

"Arsene Wenger is the total opposite.

"He is very studious, very thoughtful and a very clever man.

"His football teams should be an inspiration to people who want their teams to entertain.

"Ultimately, he has won in style.

"Teams like Arsenal are always open to criticism if they don't win anything, as happened last season.

"But from my perspective, as a football fan, they are still a joy to watch.

"In my eyes, he is up there in terms of changing the face of English football over the last 20 years by creating teams that are a joy to watch.

"George Graham won the championship but Arsene Wenger has put Arsenal at the top end of the Premier League year in, year out.

"The perception I have is that he hasn't spent anywhere near the money a Manchester United or a Chelsea might have done.

"He seems to have everything 'boxed off', like his scouting system and his greater vision of where the club are going.

"He has gone down that route of setting up scouting systems in west Africa, places like the Ivory Coast and Cameroon.

"He brings young players into Europe and puts them into his team.

"He is a visionary, really.

"Those players didn't cost £20m or £30m and yet they play in a team who finish in the top four and compete to win the Premier League every year."

Mowbray lost out to Wenger in their only previous meeting on the touchline when the Gunners won 2-0 at The Hawthorns in a Carling Cup third round tie in October 2006.

But, while he has huge respect for Arsenal, he believes there is no reason his troops cannot give them a run for their money.

"I don't get star-struck or awe-struck," added the Albion chief.

"It isn't that type of occasion.

"I keep saying that I want us to be recognised for our achievements - we deserve to be in the Premier League.

"I'm not into the theory of us going to Arsenal and just enjoying the day.

"As I said last year when we played Portsmouth in the FA Cup, we have to try to be competitive and try to win the match.

"We will go there and try to be as competitive as we can.

"I can have respect for their manager and his club but ultimately we're going there to try to get a result and do what is best for Albion.

"Ultimately, somewhere down the line, hopefully we can get to a level where teams see us as a big game to play and a big fish to try to beat."

PIC: HEAD TO HEAD...Wenger and Mowbray prowl the touchline two years ago

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