• Premier League

Villa striker Benteke talks up Arsenal

ESPN staff
November 16, 2012
Christian Benteke has impressed since joining Aston Villa © Getty Images
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Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke has revealed his love for Arsenal, while admitting that he thought Villa were based in London.

Benteke has impressed since joining the Midlands club from Genk for £7 million in the summer, hitting four goals in ten appearances.

However, the Belgium international has hinted that he may not stick around at Villa for too long, seeing them as a stepping-stone towards a club of the Gunners' size.

"Arsenal are the club I love," Benteke is quoted as saying in the Sun. "I like their philosophy of selecting young players and, besides, they had Thierry Henry. For me he is the best player in the world and was my boyhood idol.

"I'm not afraid of making enemies at Villa by saying I love Arsenal. One can say worse things. I'm a Villa player for now. They're the right club at the right time.

"When I joined Villa I didn't know where they played. I thought they were a London club!"

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