Arsene Wenger: 'Monaco wanted to keep Manchester United striker Anthony Martial'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he was surprised Manchester United were able to sign Anthony Martial from AS Monaco earlier this month.

The 19-year-old striker joined the Red Devils for £36m, but Wenger suggests that Monaco had previously maintained that the youngster - who scored 15 goals in 68 appearances for the club as a versatile forward - was not for sale.

"He was more a winger in his whole career and he played the final part of the season last year as striker," Wenger said at a press conference.

"But Monaco's statement was always that the two players that would not move were Martial and [Layvin] Kurzawa, so I thought they would maintain that.

"But in the end both of them moved."

Martial has scored four goals in his first five appearances for United.