Arsenal are better to watch than Barcelona and Arsene should be SIR Wenger, claims Jurgen Klopp

Jur-Gunner Klopp: Big fan of Arsene Wenger and playing football in the rain Mike Hewitt

The Borussia Dortmund boss claims that he prefers watching Arsenal over Barcelona, and praises Arsene Wenger for his work with the Gunners

Borussia Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has long been a fan of English football, so much so that his love for "fighting football" saw him switch from being a striker to being a defender during his playing days.

The quintessential football hipster has already heaped praise upon Arsenal this season, and ahead of Dortmund's clash against the Gunners this week he is at it once again, evangelising Arsenal and the English game.

Jurgen Klopp claims Arsene Wenger deserves a knighthood for his efforts with Arsenal, and said he prefers watching the Gunners over watching Barcelona.

"For me, he is Sir Arsene Wenger, he is really something, I love him," he said during an interview with the Guardian.

"When I watch Arsenal in the last 10 years, it is nearly perfect football, but we all know they didn't win a title. In Britain they say that they like Arsenal but they have to win something.

"This is the philosophy of Arsene Wenger. I love this but I cannot coach this because I am a different guy. You think many things are similar? I hope so in some moments, but there are big differences, too."

The Borussia Dortmund boss also criticised Barcelona, and said that he was a young child growing up watching the current Barcelona side, he wouldn't want to be a footballer, he'd want to be a TENNIS player.

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"If Barcelona's team of the last four years were the first one that I saw play when I was four years of age, with their serenity, winning 5-0, 6-0, I would have played tennis. Sorry, that is not enough for me.

"It is not serenity football, it is fighting football – that is what I like. What we call in German – English [football] - rainy day, heavy pitch, everybody is dirty in the face and they go home and can't play football for the next four weeks. This is Borussia."

Arsenal face Dortmund on Wednesday, travelling to Germany in hope of winning vital points in a very tight Champions League qualifying group. Arsenal, Dortmund and Napoli are all tied on six points each after three games, though Arsenal are currently top of Group F on goal difference.

The Gunners have a tough week ahead of them, five points clear at the top of the Premier League they will face Manchester United on Sunday