Schweinsteiger heralds Arsenal's Wilshere as one of Europe's best

Feb 19, 2013 4:55:00 PM

The Bayern Munich powerhouse believes the diminutive Gunners playmaker is one of the top midfielders on the continent and a key player for his side’s Champions League opponents

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger has described Arsenal's Jack Wilshere as one of Europe's best ahead of tonight’s Champions League tie between the two sides at the Emirates.

The 28-year-old Germany international believes the 21-year-old Englishman is among the top players in his position.

Schweinsteiger, whose Bayern side are 15 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga and have won all five of their domestic games since the winter break, also said that he is surprised Arsenal haven’t won trophies recently, given the quality they have in their ranks.

He told reporters: "I don't think one player makes the team but in his position he [Wilshere] is one of the best there is, he is a difficult player.

"He is very dynamic, he has a very good left foot and he has a really good eye for the way he views the players around him. Those are his strong qualities.

"Arsenal are one of the top 10 teams in Europe. The days of Tony Adams and Thierry Henry have gone, and maybe they are pining for those days. But still they have Wilshere and they have [Santi] Cazorla in there and they are very technical. I don't know why they have not won trophies because they have the quality to win."

Bayern are keen to avenge their recent heartache in the Champions League, having lost in the final in 2010 and 2012 to Inter and Chelsea, by going one step further this year and lifting the trophy at Wembley in May.

Nonetheless, Schweinsteiger is keeping focused on Arsenal, he added: "If you have lost two finals then the motivation is there, it is huge.

“But we have to take this game against Arsenal as our priority. It is going to be a very hard game and we have to respect Arsenal. They lost at the weekend against Blackburn but that doesn't mean it is not going to be difficult."