Of course I respect Wenger - he plays brilliant football: Allardyce puts the record straight

Newcastle manager Sam Allardyce insisted today that he has never been disrespectful to Arsene Wenger despite the many spats that the pair have had over the years.

The 52-year-old takes his side to Emirates Stadium in the Carling Cup third round tonight having more than once made life difficult for the Frenchman and his Arsenal side during his time at Bolton.

However, he has never managed to beat Wenger in the capital and that is something that must change if Newcastle are to progress.

In 16 clashes with the Gunners during his time at the Reebok Stadium, Allardyce managed four wins and six draws, often leaving his opposite number less than impressed by Bolton's abrasive style.

Allardyce said: "I have never disrespected him in any shape, way or form in my time — it is more the opposite, if you like, but that's life.

"It is terrific football he plays and a terrific job he has done for Arsenal over 10 or 11 years. He has rebuilt a team, like few managers can.

"There is only one manager who has done that before and that is Sir Alex Ferguson.

"He has built four teams and he is still top of the tree. But nobody else has managed to maintain it, only Jose Mourinho, and now he has gone.

"Arsene is the next one who keeps taking players out and replacing them and still produces success, perhaps not last year, but it looks like they will this year."

That process continued on Saturday when the Gunners dismissed Derby with an imperious 5-0 demolition job to confirm their re-emergence as genuine title contenders.

Allardyce said: "Physically, they are as capable as anybody else in the Premier League, never mind technically and tactically. They are perhaps still physically not quite as good as they used to be, but that's the only area now."

Newcastle headed south without striker Michael Owen and defender Claudio Cacapa as they underwent scans on groin problems, while Mark Viduka, whose double paved the way for a 3-1 Premier League victory over West Ham on Sunday, is battling to shake off a minor knock to his foot.

Spanish full-back Jose Enrique and Senegal international Abdoulaye Faye could be handed starts, while last season's leading goalscorer Obafemi Martins is likely to be the beneficiary of Owen's woes.