Arsène Wenger has offered a sarcastic response to Nani's claims that Arsenal are not contenders for the Premier League title.

Nani, the Manchester United winger, has said he cannot see anybody winning the league this season "outside of Manchester United or Chelsea".

But Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said mockingly today: "Everybody has a different opinion in this league and nobody is perfect. We live in a society where everybody knows everything and it is a shame to say, 'I don't know'.

"I personally don't know who will win the league and I have managed 1,600 games. If Nani knows he must be 1,600 times more intelligent than I am."

Meanwhile, Wenger admitted to being "surprised and disappointed" at the decision to overlook David Dein for the post of Football Association chairman.

Dein, a former Arsenal vice-chairman, was widely regarded as a front-runner for the position but the nominations committee headed by the Bolton chairman, Phil Gartside, instead opted for David Bernstein.

Wenger, who was lured to Arsenal by Dein in 1996 and worked alongside him until 2007 when the latter stepped down, believes his former colleague would have been the ideal choice to take the FA forward.

"I was completely surprised and disappointed [by the FA's decision]," said Wenger. "He would have offered a competent knowledge of football and international football. It is a disappointment."