SAM Allardyce insists Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is no more ‘advanced’ in terms of coaching than him.

The Blackburn manager refuses to back down in his spat with Wenger, who has been a big critic of Allardyce’s style of play.

But Big Sam says he feels that the perception of him is the only thing separating him from somebody like Wenger.

“There is a problem with perception. Arsene is seen as a sophisticated Frenchman while I’m just a rugged English centre-half from the Midlands with an accent to match, but is Arsene more advanced than me in terms of coaching? Not a chance,” said Allardyce.

“Does he use live fitness data on his players during games? Does he study sports psychology every day? Does he use sports science to the extent that I do? I doubt it.

“None of all this affects my view of Wenger. I have total respect for the way he changed his philosophy in recent years when the £400million move to the Emirates Stadium reduced his spending power in the transfer market.

“He hasn’t won trophies yet with his current crop but he has stuck to his guns by insisting that nothing will prevent the development of his young players. Arsenal play some wonderful football but what makes the Premier League interesting is the difference in styles between teams.”

Allarydce admits that Wenger is a private figure who will never be truly understood.

“The truth is that nobody really knows Arsene Wenger. There certainly aren’t too many people who actually get close to him,” he continued in his News of the World column.

“If that’s Arsene’s way, though, then I respect that. Maybe he doesn’t like me. Maybe he is keen to get on the coach or the plane after fulfilling 45 minutes of post-match media duties.

“He loves the psychological warfare of the Premier League, the world’s most watched and talked about sporting competition. It goes with the theatre of the game and without it football would be less interesting."