Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says 'the Premier League has the best attacking players in world... Danny Welbeck and Mesut Ozil are an interesting combination'
Arsene Wenger insisted the Premier League boasts the finest attackers in world football as he spoke excitedly about the blossoming partnership between Mesut Ozil and Danny Welbeck ahead of Saturday's north London derby against Tottenham.
Welbeck scored his first goal for the Gunners in their 3-0 win against Aston Villa last weekend, as Ozil pulled the strings playing in a more familiar No10 role behind the former Manchester United forward.
'He [Ozil] played very well and had a good understanding with Danny Welbeck,' said Wenger. 'It was a good partnership because they gave each other balls to score. It was an interesting experience.
On the high number of goals scored in the Premier League season, he said:
'[There is] better attacking because, when you look at the top-quality players that come into the Premier League now, basically we have all of the best attacking players in Europe here. 'The creative players also play in England. Look at the big clubs with all the huge financial potential and huge offensive power.
'I believe as well as that financial potential the English Premier League allows lower clubs with less financial potential to buy the best players in Europe because the clubs in the second half of the Premier League still have more financial potential than Italian and Spanish clubs. All the good players play here.'
The 64-year-old revealed German centre back Per Mertesacker is in contention to start at the Emirates. 'Per Mertesacker is available for the weekend,' he said. 'I don't think there will be a problem with him.'
Arsenal have been plagued by injury problems in recent weeks, with fullbacks Nacho Monreal and Mathieu Debuchy both ruled out of Saturday's match against their north London rivals.
'There's not a lot [of defensive quality] on the market and if you look at the other clubs, they have exactly the same problem. When you went anywhere, everybody is looking for defenders.
'I feel that we made a very good buy with Calum Chambers and I believe that we were a bit unlucky to lose Debuchy and Monreal together at the same time. [It doesn't] matter how many players you buy, if you have bad luck. You cannot have three players in every position because it's impossible to manage as well.
Wenger comes into his 44th north London derby off the back of a disappointing Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton, in which Wenger named a much-changed side from the one that thrashed Villa in the Premier League.
'It was a disappointment to go out against Southampton but we could be a completely different team because I changed 10 players from the Villa game.
'We are more in our mind on the back of the Villa game and we want to do well but we wanted as well to go through in the Capital One Cup but Southampton played very well. You have to consider them as being one of the top teams this season in the Premier League.
On whether any of the young players that faced the Saints gave him something to think about: 'It’s difficult for the players who do not have a lot of competition to come in and be at their best. You’re always tempted to be a bit harsh on the judgement of the players who lack a bit of continuity in the competition.
'You have a look at the young players and I believe players like Isaac Hayden and Hector Bellerin have shown that they have the quality to be here and I believe overall David Opsina had a good game as well.'
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