The Frenchman is a big admirer of Dortmund's Japanese playmaker but says he's just one of many Asian footballers making waves as the region begins to produce 'top quality'
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says the examples of Shinji Kagawa and Ryo Miyaichi show Asian football is on the way up.
The Frenchman was speaking prior to Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, which is home to Kagawa.
Wenger is a known admirer of Kagawa and told reporters he would be a key in Tuesday's encounter, before discussing the growth of Asian football in recent times.
"Kagawa is a very mobile player, he is very clever, very creative and is very quick in the box and that is why he is a proven goal-scorer," said Wenger.
The Arsenal boss also said his new Japanese signing Ryo Miyaichi did not make the trip to Germany, and also went on to affirm his belief in the rising quality of Asian football:
"Miyaichi is not here, he is just coming back from injury and is playing for the reserves on Tuesday at Bolton."
"I think it just shows what is happening all over the world at the moment, the push of Asian football towards the top quality," Wenger said. "We saw it at the World Cup last year where teams like Japan did very well, along with North and South Korea."
The Frenchman was speaking prior to Tuesday's UEFA Champions League clash between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, which is home to Kagawa.
Wenger is a known admirer of Kagawa and told reporters he would be a key in Tuesday's encounter, before discussing the growth of Asian football in recent times.
"Kagawa is a very mobile player, he is very clever, very creative and is very quick in the box and that is why he is a proven goal-scorer," said Wenger.
The Arsenal boss also said his new Japanese signing Ryo Miyaichi did not make the trip to Germany, and also went on to affirm his belief in the rising quality of Asian football:
"Miyaichi is not here, he is just coming back from injury and is playing for the reserves on Tuesday at Bolton."
"I think it just shows what is happening all over the world at the moment, the push of Asian football towards the top quality," Wenger said. "We saw it at the World Cup last year where teams like Japan did very well, along with North and South Korea."
