The player, who is of Algerian origin, missed this year's World Cup contest in South Africa after being dropped from France's 23-man squad by coach Raymond Domenech, although his outstanding performance in the Premier League earned him the top French individual award beating Chelsea winger, Florent Malouda and Lyon goalkeeper, Hugo Lloris. The 23-year-old player has been hailed by the English media this season after scoring eight goals in the Premier League and two in the UEFA Champions League for the ‘Gunners'. “He is a kid who is seen as the new Zinedine Zidane. He even has the same touch of the ball,” British writer Tony Cascarino described him in the English daily newspaper, The Times. France's coach Laurent Blanc was full of praise for the gifted midfielder, saying that he is currently the best French player. “Nasri has hit top form now, he's on a cloud. He used to play more often on the flanks, but today he runs forward and takes his chances into the goal. He is good everywhere on the pitch and he's just 23” says Blanc.