Arsene Wenger pays tribute to Kevin De Bruyne

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said that his team will have to be wary of "exceptional" Kevin De Bruyne in Sunday's EFL Cup final against Manchester City.

The Gunners will face City in the final of the EFL Cup at Wembley on Sunday afternoon.

Arsenal will be bidding to lift their first League Cup trophy since the 1992-93 season, but City are seen as the favourites as they look to bounce back from their shock defeat to Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup.

Wenger has admitted that De Bruyne will be a huge danger to his team this weekend, with the Belgium international contributing 11 goals and 19 assists in 39 appearances for the Citizens this season.

"He's had an exceptional development," Wenger told reporters. "One of the big strengths of Manchester City is De Bruyne. He is a modern midfielder for me, he can be decisive in the final third.

"He works very hard; he is right footed, left footed, a fighter as well. Overall, I am not surprised [by his performances]. They have so many players that you could think about how to stop that it is better you focus on the team plan rather than any individual."

De Bruyne only made three Premier League appearances for Chelsea between 2012 and 2014, but has thrived since returning to English football in the summer of 2015.