Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that "shorter" footballers are becoming increasingly important in football.
Wenger, who has seen summer signing Santi Cazorla shine since his move from Malaga, said that the agility and technicality required in the final third has seen shorter players become more valuable than taller ones.
"I believe it's because the density of players you have to fight against in the final third is always getting bigger, so the quality of the pass and the technique in that area has become much more important," Arsenal's official site quotes Wenger as saying.
"There is less space available, so accuracy is key. Secondly, because there is a smaller space the shorter players, the very agile players, are becoming more important and the taller players in midfield less so. That could be an explanation.
"It's changed in the last four or five years - the distances absorbed by players are becoming bigger and bigger, and therefore the limited space on the pitch demands more technical ability."
Arsenal are currently seventh in the Premier League with seven points from 12 games.
Matt Domm
