Soccer: Wenger in praise of Rooney

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger believes that Everton striker Wayne Rooney can follow Thierry Henry’s route to success as he tipped the teenager to become a “great player.”

Wenger admitted that he could not afford to bid for Rooney if the England international ever came onto the transfer market. For the Arsenal boss believes that Rooney's dip in form earlier this season will merely prove to be a temporary part of his learning curve just as Henry experienced earlier in his career.

After all, while the Arsenal forward played a part in France's 1998 World Cup triumph at the age of just 20, he was back in the U21 side for the next two seasons. Henry, nevertheless, rebuilt his career after his move to Arsenal and was recently the runner-up in the world and European player of the year polls.