Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hailed England fans as the greatest supporters in the world.

The Frenchman is in his 17th year as Gunners manager having moved to London from Nagoya Grampus Eight in 1996.

And he paid tribute to the superb support the Three Lions enjoy both at home and abroad in a special video message to celebrate 150 years of The Football Association.

Wenger said: "I would first of all like to congratulate The FA for having reached 150 years, for what they have done for the game and I would like to globally thank the passion that people have for the game here.

"I personally believe that’s something absolutely outstanding and it deserves a lot of credit.

"I’m always amazed when I travel to World Cups and European Championships. I always say to people who come with me, 'Come on, let’s be on time, I don’t want to miss the national anthem of England because that’s where you feel really the passion of the game for England.'

"It’s always a special moment because that’s a battle before the game that is always won by England because they’re always superior.

"In every single stand in the world – no matter where it is – there are always more English people than anybody else from the other team and that is absolutely fantastic. They sing loud and proud, always."

Wenger, 63, also paid tribute to the work English football's governing body has done to shape the game over the last century and a half.

He added: "I personally feel forever grateful because football was the love affair of my life.

"England created football, so I’ll always have, somewhere, a massive respect for that because I think without The FA and without this country, I would not have known football.

"So this is a good opportunity to thank England because I feel sometimes the rest of the football world forgets that.

"There’s a real passion here for the game but I believe the whole world benefits from this sport and I never forget that it was created here."

And when asked what his best achievement in English football has been, Wenger added: "It's the fact that I became manager of a big English club.

"That was a dream and to fulfil that dream was something absolutely outstanding. That was the greatest moment in my career as a manager and a fantastic chance for me."

Find out more about The FA's 150th anniversary by clicking here

Watch the full video message from Wenger in the media gallery above