Arsene Wenger believes it's too early to praise Gareth Bale's performance

Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger was rather prudent about all the hype after Gareth Bale’s phenomenal performance against Lyon in a 2-1 Europa League match on Thursday, where Tottenham Hotspur emerged victorious. Although the young star winger has been making waves ever since he was at Southampton, comparing him to world class players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Wenger said, wasn’t a very wise thing to do, let alone accurate.

The Gooners boss, who signed Theo Walcott as a teenager when he might have opted for Bale back in 2005, said the 23-year-old still had a lot to learn.

“Bale has the potential to develop and become the players that you compare him to. However, Messi has won two or three Champions League, a few championships, scored 95 goals in a year, so let’s not go too quick. You are always very quick here, but let’s slow down a little bit.”

Wenger also said he had no worries about his decision of signing Walcott over Bale at South Coast Club, Southampton.

“It was Walcott and Bale, and we were at some stage on (about) taking the two if possible, but we could get Walcott and I am very happy we got him. If I tell you the number of players we did not sign who we should have signed, you would be amazed, but it is the same for every single club, you miss players”

Nevertheless, Bale, a Welsh footballer who now plays for Tottenham Hotspur, also presses that there’s a lot for him to learn.

“It’s probably the best I’ve been playing so far in my career, but I’ve still got room for improvement. Season after season I have to improve in all areas. I just want to keep doing that, keep working hard and, hopefully, keep getting better. I’ve just got to keep my head down, keep working hard, keep trying to keep my form.”

Bale’s current form has piqued Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona‘s interest and rumours are that either one of the clubs will bid to sign him this summer. The Welshman has been contracted to the north London club till 2016, but he pointed out that he would be open to the idea of playing abroad.