Wenger - Baptista ready to fire

Arsene Wenger feels Arsenal are set to see the best of Brazilian star Julio Baptista.

The 25-year-old, currently on a season-long loan from Real Madrid, has been plagued by niggling injuries since his move.

However, he scored his first goal for The Gunners in their UEFA Champions League win over Hamburg last week - and Wenger thinks Baptista is now ready to make a big impact.

"We have seen that before with players who came here - it always took them six months to adapt," said Wenger.

"I am confident he will make a big impact here.

"There is no basic problem with him. He has just got to adapt to the pace of the game.

"He has just come back from six weeks out with injury, and I feel he needs to work, maybe he will play on Saturday (against Tottenham)."

Meanwhile, Wenger has vented his annoyance that his captain Thierry Henry has once again missed out on the Ballon d'Or.

Fabio Cannavaro was named European Footballer of the Year earlier this week - and Wenger was left annoyed at the verdict.

"It is a mistake. But it shows the media that vote look only at the World Cup which, in my opinion, is the lowest level of football you can see at the moment when you speak about elite football," he said.

"You can't say that when Cannavaro or Thierry has a good game at the World Cup he is the best because you just have to look at some of the players he is up against.

"To be consistent in a big championship like the Premiership or the Champions League would, for me, be much more appropriate."