Arsenal squad benefited from training with big-hearted Becks, says Gunners boss Wenger

Wenger has always been a fan of Beckham and considered trying to sign him when the former England captain left Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2003.

Only this January, Wenger invited the 32-year-old to train with Arsenal at London Colney as he endeavoured to get match fit in time to impress new England coach Fabio Capello.

Scroll down for more

Setting a good example: Beckham, pictured here during England training ahead of the match against France, impressed Arsene Wenger with his hard work and dedication

And with Beckham's dedication now about to pay off with his landmark appearance against France in Paris tonight, Wenger has delivered his own glowing testimony.

Wenger said: "When he was with us, he set an incredible example. He worked and trained like a madman.

"He arrived first in the morning and was last to leave. If I had thought that for a moment he was going to come to us and play the 'big I am' then I never would have allowed him to join my group of players.

"But he was extremely discreet and was the model professional in fact.

"He just brought pleasure to everybody and everybody at Arsenal benefited from him being with us."

Wenger is expected to be in Paris tomorrow night to watch Beckham join the likes of Peter Shilton and Sir Bobby Charlton as an English centurion.

Scroll down for more

Centre of attention: The blond-haired Beckham stretches with the Arsenal squad in January

The Arsenal boss added: "It is a great happiness for me personally to see him do this as I have always appreciated the nice side of David Beckham.

"For me it was natural to welcome him to London Colney to train with us. I thought it would help the whole group of us and give us a boost and it did.

"I had already watched him with the national team when they had used Colney to train and I could tell from that how much he loved his football.

"After training had finished he would stay out there and he and Paul Scholes would just hit long balls and passes to each other for half an hour.

"He never once has given me the impression of being a spoiled child.

"For me he has always looked like somebody who plays football from the heart."