Arsene Wenger: 'Gareth Bale not in same class as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that Gareth Bale still has "a way to go" before he is mentioned alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Bale became the world's most expensive player when he signed for Real Madrid for a reported £86m at the end of August, but the Gunners boss feels that the Welshman is not yet on the same level as Ronaldo and Messi.

"Bale still has a way to go if you compare what Ronaldo has done and what Bale has done," Wenger told ITV Sport.

"[Ronaldo] is a complete athlete with total efficiency and Messi is an artist who does things nobody else can do.

"Bale has still a way to make it but the vision of having [Ronaldo and Bale] together is very exciting."

The former Tottenham Hotspur winger has been ruled out of tonight's visit of Copenhagen in the Champions League.