Babel: It would be a dream come true to play for Arsenal - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Babel: It would be a dream come true to play for Arsenal

Ajax youngster Ryan Babel admits it would be his dream to play under Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

The 20-year-old forward has been watched by Arsenal while helping Holland Under-21s reach the semi-finals of the European Championships they are hosting, with Babel scoring against Portugal.

He has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium and, as well as being an Arsenal fan, is close friends with Robin van Persie.

"If I get the chance one day to train with Arsene Wenger it would be a dream," he said.

"From when I was young I supported Arsenal. I liked the style, the ambience, how they show themselves on the field - everything."

Babel would like to play in England one day, adding: "I think it's maybe the best league, it's a very high level and there is good football."

Babel is considered one of Holland's top prospects but he did not consider pulling out of the tournament to save himself for the new season, as Blackburn midfielder David Bentley did.

"For me it was important to help the team and show support to the guys that do not have a lot of experience," the left-sided Dutchman said. "After a long season I felt I had a little bit more energy to play."

Babel's tendency to drift wide and drop deep has seen comparisons to Arsenal striker Thierry Henry.

Ronaldinho is the latest Barcelona player to admit he would want to play alongside Henry at the Nou Camp.

"Any player in the world would like to play with him," said the Brazil playmaker. "He is a great player and I think he would adapt really well to the Primera Liga and our team's style of play.

"I personally love to watch him play, he has a lot of speed and he is a player that I have always liked.

"We both like to play one-on-one and surge forward."

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