Grimandi: Wiltord needs chance to shine

Gilles Grimandi has backed French team-mate Sylvain Wiltord to win over his Highbury doubters - provided he is given a chance to prove himself in the Arsenal line-up.

However, despite the absence of Dennis Bergkamp, it seems the £13 million striker will not get that chance in Lyon tonight.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger seems set to pick Nwankwo Kanu to fill the gap up front in the Champions League clash.

Wiltord has scored only six times since his move from Bordeaux last summer but midfielder Grimandi believes it is only a matter of time until he captures the imagination of the English public.

He told icons.com: "If he played in any European league, provided he got a good run in the team, he'd be right up there among the top goalscorers. He was always one of the best strikers in the French league."

Wiltord remains a popular figure in France after scoring the equaliser which set them on their way to last summer's Euro 2000 Final win over Italy. He also enjoyed a healthy strike rate at Bordeaux, with 55 goals in 134 starts.

It is a record which will have been noted by a Lyon defence likely to be led by Brazilian Edmilson. Grimandi added: "Sylvain is a hero in France, especially after Euro 2000, and he'll continue to be popular because the French public follow all the other European leagues.

"I think sometimes in England the public are quite inward looking and tend only to follow the domestic league. In France, they follow all the foreign leagues. There are big television programmes every week following the other European leagues."

With that in mind Lyon fans will know exactly what to expect from Wenger and his team laced with French talent.

Grimandi said: "Arsenal are the most popular English team in France. Since Mr Wenger arrived the French public have followed the fortunes of Arsenal very closely.

"In France, tonight's match is a big game. Lyon have some exceptional talents and they're very strong offensively. But I think there's no reason why we can't win."