At one stage of the campaign, it looked as if Wenger's young Gunners would offer United's old guard a stern test of their championship credentials.

However, despite beating the Red Devils 1-0 at Emirates Stadium on May 1, Arsenal are now facing up to another barren campaign while Ferguson has presided over a record-breaking 19th domestic title and is preparing for next week's European showdown with Barcelona at Wembley.

Wenger feels his old rival deserves the League Managers Association accolade for 2011/2012.

"They are in the Champions League final and they have won the championship. It can only be Ferguson," said the Arsenal boss, who quipped he had been reminded to register his vote ahead of the League Manager Association's end-of-season dinner on Monday.

"They won the championship again at Old Trafford. Their away form was very indifferent, but at home they have been more efficient.

"When they are 0-0 after 70 minutes you know they will win the game because they have pressure on their opponent, the crowd is behind them and it finishes 1-0."

Arsenal beat Barcelona in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League clash in February, before then going out in the Nou Camp for the second successive season at the hands of Lionel Messi after striker Robin van Persie had controversially been sent off.

Despite Barcelona knocking out Spanish rivals Real Madrid en-route to Wembley and then going on to lift the La Liga title again, Wenger sees no reason why United should not get the better of Pep Guardiola's side next Saturday.

"What I have seen in the last three weeks, there is never a better moment to win it against Barcelona," said the Arsenal manager.

"They look quite exhausted and Manchester United look sharp physically.

"I am not sure whether Barcelona have enough time to recover. They look on their knees, so I give Manchester United a good chance."

United lost 2-0 against the Spanish giants when they met in the 2009 final in Rome.

And while Wenger expects United to spent plenty of time chasing the game, he feels the English side will be a match for Barcelona this time around.

"You know Barcelona will have the ball for 70% of the time and Manchester United will have to be very efficient for the 30% of the time they have the ball, no matter what kind of tactics they decide," he said.

"I have an instinctive feeling that this time Manchester United will change completely their style against them.

"I think they will go for a rougher midfield, a more direct display than they did in Rome."