Alan Pardew: Arsene Wenger 'one of the greats'

Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew has described Arsene Wenger as one of the great managers ahead of their Premier League match-up on Sunday.

Palace take on Arsenal at Selhurst Park hoping to extend a poor start to the season for the Gunners, who suffered a shock defeat to West Ham on the opening weekend.

Pardew and Wenger have not always enjoyed a harmonious relationship.

The pair clashed on the touchline in 2006 when Wenger took exception to Pardew celebrating a last-minute winner for West Ham, and Pardew has also criticised the Frenchman for failing to promote English players.

The Eagles boss, however, insists those disagreements after now firmly in the past and praised Wenger's lasting contribution to the Premier League.

I don't think we'd ever seen the type of football played in the Premier League before Arsene.

"On the touchline we all have run-ins - we've both been in this game a long time," Pardew said.

"In my opinion he is one of the greats managers, absolutely. I don't think we'd ever seen the type of football played in the Premier League before Arsene.

"He definitely educated coaches and managers in this country on the beauty of possession.

"He's a very brave manager to play the way he does week in, week out and stick to the principles he has.

"Of course, at the level he's at, winning is of paramount importance.

"In the last couple of years he's been under pressure. Those FA Cup wins (2014 and 2015) have cemented his position, and given him the chance to win the league this year."

Palace have not beaten Arsenal since October 1994, but the Eagles are in confident mood after enjoying an impressive victory against newly promoted Norwich last weekend.

"It makes a different kind of statement about this season if we beat them," Pardew said.

Live Ford Super Sunday

"We need to play our game. Our performance at Norwich was below our best.

"We were still very good at times and that's what we can do - we're very good at moments in the game and some of those moments can put us in the driving seat.

"We want more control this year of games and that will be something that will be interesting for our fans and for the media to see - whether we can wrestle control from teams like Arsenal."

Watch Crystal Palace v Arsenal live on Sky Sports 1 at 1.30pm on Sunday.