Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger isn't surprised by Alex Song's success with West Ham United this season.

Song's midfield performances have inspired Sam Allardyce's team this season and raised the question of why Wenger did not try to bring the Cameroon international back to the Emirates Stadium when Barcelona made him available on loan.

"Alex Song is a good player," said the Arsenal boss. "I brought him here at 17 and kept him despite all the opinions against him and he developed into a very good player. You don't need to convince me he's a good player. I took him at a very young age and gave him his chance.

"I think he was a very good player when he was here and he didn't play a lot when he was in Spain - you see players like Santi Cazorla who always looks stronger (when they play regularly)."