Wenger: Fran Merida Similar To Cesc

The Gunners' boss is hopeful that Merida will follow in the footsteps as his Catalan team-mate, but admits that he has taken longer to develop...

03-Dec-2008 2:40:45 PM

Fran Merida - Arsenal

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Arsenal

Arséne Wenger believes Fran Merida is similar to Cesc Fàbregas in the way he commands a midfield, but admitted that he was a late developer in comparison to the club captain.

The Gunners' boss secured the services of both players as youngsters from Barcelona and is hopeful that the pair can become as important as each other in the next few seasons.

While Cesc shone almost as soon as he tasted football at the highest level, Merida has taken longer to develop but Wenger is confident that he will come good.

“Being compared to Cesc is a big task as well but I think he has a similar talent,” Wenger told the club's official website.

“You see in training and in the first team, he is always an asset.

“But at the moment in the Premier League you need power and I feel Fran is a late developer physically, but I do think he will come on.”

Merida moved to Arsenal in 2005 after spending seven seasons being developed at Camp Nou and was then loaned out to Real Sociedad last term, where he played 14 games.

Lucas Brown, Goal.com