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his £60m transfer to Chelsea and Paul Pogba was not at his best in his first season back at Old Trafford.

“It is normal,” said Wenger (below). “In England you can play against teams who are organised and can physically cope with 90-minutes’ intensity.

“The defenders have become much quicker than before – they are all athletes now at the back.”

And of Pogba, Wenger said: “He now looks settled. He is dominating physically. In the first year you can suffer a little bit.”

He then listed the qualities that he admires in Lacazette.

“His intelligence,” said Wenger. “His team attitude and the quality and the speed of understanding with the other players. What he has worked on is to cope with the intensity of the challenges.

“In France, you go down, it is a free-kick. It is difficult for the striker to get used to the change here. I think he now resists better.

“This guy is used to scoring 30 goals per year, so at the moment even if he says ‘no’, I am sure he is frustrated.

“As a striker, you have to provoke. At the back you respond. So that means the intensity and the problems comes always from you – the striker has always to be proactive. You need a lot of energy for that.”

Today will mean a return – if fit – for Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere to the club where he spent last season on loan.

“I am pleased that he came back,” said Wenger. “He is an Arsenal man. I hope we find the solution to keep him.”