Wenger considered Johnson

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In the build-up to the match against Everton, Arsène Wenger has praised Everton's Andy Johnson and says that the striker is the perfect foil for England striker Wayne Rooney.

England play Israel in a crucial European Championship qualifier and the Arsenal manager thinks Johnson and Rooney would be the ideal strike partnership for the national team.

Wenger said: "I think he's a player who can help England.

"His qualities are the timing and quality of his runs while his team-work ethic is fantastic. He never gives up.

"He can be one of the players who can complement Rooney because Rooney is more a type of second striker and you need one who stretches defenders.

"Before it was Michael Owen, and if you look at players who can do that, Andy Johnson is one.

"At one stage, even with Thierry Henry here, I considered Johnson. The price at the time put me off. But some players make it a bit later, as did Ian Wright.

"When we played against Crystal Palace in the Premier League he gave us a hard time and I had a look at him then. There was a big fight for him at the time and I already had Henry and Robin van Persie."