'Unstoppable' - Warren Zaire-Emery told he's on same path as Kylian Mbappe as Arsene Wenger hails PSG starlet as a 'mix of N'Golo Kante, Paul Pogba & Patrick Vieira'

France manager Didier Deschamps added Zaire-Emery to his Les Bleus squad for this international break, just a month after the teenager was named captain of the nation's Under-21 side. The midfielder, 17, has started 10 of 11 Ligue 1 fixtures this season.

In an interview with Le Parisien, the former Arsenal boss compared Zaire-Emery to Mbappe: "We’re speaking of a boy gifted with super talent. He has blossomed exceptionally early. That’s why he’s been called up by Didier. When, at 17, your manager at club level chooses you as one of the first names on the team sheet, that implies that you exude something that is unstoppable. To some extent, he makes me think of Kylian Mbappé in the sense that people are already unanimous on him, at an age where, in general, everyone says: ‘he’s talented, yes, but let’s see’."

Wenger also admitted that he sees some of France's best midfielders in Zaire-Emery: "He has a bit of Paul Pogba’s power, but some common qualities with N’Golo Kanté in his aptitude to win back the ball. Zaïre-Emery is a bit of a mix of the two, a combination of the two 2018 World Champions, with his ability to win the duels without committing fouls and then breaking forward and showing his great vision of the play... He has a bit of Patrick too. A box-to-box midfielder as the English say."

Zaire-Emery is the youngest player to be called up to the Les Bleus setup since Maurice Gastiger, who earned a nod in 1914. The youngest to ever appear for the team, though, is Eduardo Camavinga, who made his first showing at 17 years, nine months and 29 days. Zaire-Emery could better that if he plays in either of Les Bleus' fixtures this week.

Zaire-Emery will hope to see the pitch in either of France's next two games. Deschamps' side play Gibraltar and Greece this week, and have already secured qualification for Euro 2024.