Wenger admits to monitoring Monaco stud Kylian Mbappe

Monaco teenage attacker Kylian Mbappe has enjoyed a meteoric rise with the principality since his first-team debut a season ago, and for good reason, as the 18-year-old blends blinding pace with a nose for goal.

Not surprisingly, Mbappe's performances have drawn the interest of some of Europe's top talent evaluators, not the least of which is a Frenchman well versed with spotting emerging talent in his homeland.

"Yes, we follow him and we know him very well and he is developing well," Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told the Ligue 1 show, courtesy of the Evening Standard.

After breaking through in Leonardo Jardim's senior squad last season with 11 Ligue 1 appearances, Mbappe has paired a trio of goals with five assists this season for the title-chasing Monegasques.

His debut goal last season against bottom-dweller Troyes was a sign of things to come.

Even with all the praise, a characteristically tactful Wenger was quick not to border on tampering, saying: "He extended his contract last season so it’s Monaco who will decide about his future."

Naturally, Wenger draws parallels between Mbappe and another speedy Frenchman reared in Monaco's system.

"Mbappe is not exactly Thierry Henry but it’s true that he has similar qualities," Wenger added.

And like Henry, Mbappe is a player who appears as adept on the flank as he does in a central striking role. While it's unfair to place similar expectations on a player 11 months short of his 19th birthday, Wenger is pegging the player born on the outskirts of Paris as a future star.

"The future, the talent is similar. The potential is similar. After that, does he have the same level of motivation, desire, and intelligence that Thierry had? The next two or three years will tell us that."