Samir Nasri is the new Thierry Henry: Arsene Wenger

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has hailed his striker Samir Nasri as the new Thierry Henry, and claimed he has the talent to follow the Arsenal legend as Footballer of the Year.

Nasri took his season's goal scoring tally into double figures with during Saturday's 2-1 win over Fulham, which lifted the Gunners to the top of the Premier League.

French international Nasri can play on either flank or in the middle, and is currently enjoying more creative freedom given the absence of injured skipper Cesc Fabregas.

Nasri, a promising midfielder signed from Marseille in July 2008, is another player Wenger has helped develop into a world-class talent, The Sun reports.

Wenger said: "We are in the middle of the season now and I will be happy for him if he becomes Player of the Year. But what is the most important for me is that the club wins.

"Nasri is an intelligent player and understands he plays where he can help the team the most. He has become more efficient and is maturing."

"Nasri is only 23. When Henry came here he was 23 and still developed a lot, so that means there is a lot more to come from Nasri, Fabregas and all these players," he said.