Bats how to stake your striking claim

improving. Me and my staff want to improve every player and Michy is a young player with great potential.

“It’s important to understand what I want.

“For me, a striker is very important, he is a point of reference and, when a striker stays in the right position, it’s easier for the team to play good football.”

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who made 10 substitutions, admitted his players looked tired and leggy after an exhausting two-week pre-season tour of Australia and China.

Wenger said: “They are tired, but, overall, we recovered. It is normal that the players are tired after two weeks’ intense preparation and we also played two games.

“It is better than playing weaker teams. It is better to see the potential of players in these types of games.”

Arsenal also struggled to bring on Olivier Giroud at half-time because he was not on the substitutes’ list and he had a huge row with the officials on the touchline before eventually getting on the pitch.

Wenger said: “I don’t understand why he was not on the list. They did want to let him play and we had a bit of an argument as we announced him and finally got the green light from someone in the sky – and he could play.”

Wenger also dismissed speculation surrounding Alexis Sanchez as Paris Saint-germain attempt to sign the Arsenal forward, who has only got a year left on his contract at the Emirates.

“It’s only media imagination,” he said.

And, when asked whether selling to a foreign club would make it easier if they do cash in, Wenger replied: “It makes no difference at all.”