Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says the role of the defensive midfielder has evolved.

Wenger says so-called defensive midfielders have had to redefine their roles due to the evolution of the modern game.

"Yes, but you can now say that this player has had to become more technical - you saw it during Euro 2012, with guys like Andrea Pirlo playing in this position," he told the Official Arsenal Magazine.

"They are not destroyers anymore, they are players that the game starts from and the quality of their passing has become very important. That's why you don't really see purely destructive players in these positions anymore."