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Arsène Wenger Premier League's 'Best Coach', Says Rafael Benítez

WATCH: Wenger Premier League's 'Best Coach'
The Huffington Post UK/PA

Napoli boss Rafael Benitez has hailed Arsène Wenger as "the best coach" in the Premier League following Arsenal's excellent start to the season.

The Gunners entertain the Neapolitans on Tuesday night in the Champions League, with both sides eager to take a grip on Champions League Group F, having won their opening European ties.

After losing their first domestic fixture at home to Aston Villa, Arsenal have since gone on a superb winning run to storm to the top of the table.

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Benítez has enjoyed an auspicious start with Napoli

And the turnaround has come as no surprise to Benítez.

"I am expecting a strong team because I think Arsène Wenger is the best coach in the Premier League," said Benítez.

"Wenger is a great manager, a great person, someone who knows the league here in England. He has experience in Europe, Arsenal is always top four and he is doing great job.

Benítez & Wenger
Liverpool v Arsenal(01 of14)
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LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - FEBRUARY 14: Arsene Wenger (R) the Arsenal Coach and his counterpart, Rafael Benitez (L) of Liverpool look on during the Barclays Premiership match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on February 14, 2006 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal v Liverpool(02 of14)
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LONDON - MARCH 12: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger kicks the ball back as Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez gives instructions during the Barclays Premiership match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Highbury on March 12, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal v Liverpool(03 of14)
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LONDON - MARCH 12: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger kicks the ball back as Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez gives instructions during the Barclays Premiership match between Arsenal and Liverpool at Highbury on March 12, 2006 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) speaks(04 of14)
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Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) speaks to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez after the referee decided that there was too much fog on the pitch at Anfield, Liverpool, England, 19 December 2006 for Liverpool's league cup football match against Arsenal to go ahead. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel : +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) speaks(05 of14)
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Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) speaks to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez after the referee decided that there was too much fog on the pitch at Anfield, Liverpool, England, 19 December 2006 for Liverpool's league cup football match against Arsenal to go ahead. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel : +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) speaks(06 of14)
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Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) speaks to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez (R) and chief executive Rick Parry after the referee decided that there was too much fog on the pitch at Anfield, Liverpool, England, 19 December 2006 for Liverpool's league cup football match against Arsenal to go ahead. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel : +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) speaks(07 of14)
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Liverpool, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (L) speaks to Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez (R) and chief executive Rick Parry after the referee decided that there was too much fog on the pitch at Anfield, Liverpool, England, 19 December 2006 for Liverpool's league cup football match against Arsenal. AFP PHOTO/PAUL ELLIS Mobile and website use of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel : +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read PAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool v Arsenal(08 of14)
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LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 31: Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez and Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger watch the action during the Barclays Premiership match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on March 31, 2007 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool v Arsenal(09 of14)
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LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 31: Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez (R) and Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger watch the action during the Barclays Premiership match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on March 31, 2007 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool v Arsenal(10 of14)
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LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 31: Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez (L) and Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger watch the action during the Barclays Premiership match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on March 31, 2007 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: Liverpool v Arsenal(11 of14)
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LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 08: Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger (R) looks on as Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez gestures during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final, second leg match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on April 8, 2008 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
UEFA Champions League Quarter Final: Liverpool v Arsenal(12 of14)
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LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 8: Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger protests as Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez gives instructions to his players during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final, second leg match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on April 8, 2008 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Liverpool v Arsenal - Premier League(13 of14)
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LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM - APRIL 21: Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger (L) and Liverpool Manager Rafael Benitez gesture to their players during the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on April 21, 2009 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
FBL-EUR-C1-ARSENAL-SCHALKE(14 of14)
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Arsenal's French manager Arsene Wenger (L) talks with former football manager Rafael Benitez (R) as he watches from the stands during a UEFA Champions League group B football match between Arsenal and Schalke 04 at the Emirates stadium in London on October 24, 2012. Wenger is serving a three-game touchline ban for confronting the referee following his side's elimination at the hands of AC Milan in the last 16 last season. AFP PHOTO / IAN KINGTON (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

"Hopefully he can win (the Champions League), but another year, not this one. "

Benítez, whose Napoli side have won five and drawn one of their opening six league fixtures, has been a keen observer on the opening few weeks of the new English season.

"Arsenal have great manager and a good team, Liverpool they continue growing, so the second year with a new manager, every body is expecting them to be in the top four and are doing well," he said.

"The other top sides are not at the level at the moment, they have new managers too, but I think it will only be a matter of time before you see five or six teams at the top, who will be more or less the same (as before)."

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