Premiership - Judging by Ryan Babel's performance in the 2-2 draw with Belgium at the European Under-21 Championship, Arsene Wenger could be about to snare yet another bargain.

The Ajax star has been the subject of a reported £6 million bid from Arsenal, and it is not hard to see why the 20-year-old has turned heads in north London.

It would be stretching the point to say the Gunners have a ready-made replacement lined up if Thierry Henry leaves the Emirates Stadium, but Netherlands coach Marco van Basten can be forgiven for mentioning Babel in the same breath as the great Frenchman.

Babel looked lively against Belgium; big and strong with good movement, although his first touch occasionally lacked precision.

Like Henry early in his career, the speedy forward is not a prolific scorer - just five league goals this season - but he has the tools to become a lethal marksman under Wenger's watchful eye.

He can operate either on the flanks or through the middle and was involved early on when he redirected Daniel de Ridder's superb low cross straight at Logan Bailly in the Belgium goal, and forged a decent partnership with Maceo Rigters with his direct and strong running.

Babel got the assist to a Netherlands equaliser when he picked up another De Ridder pass with his favoured right foot and flicked it around his marker before crossing low to Rigters, who finished with aplomb.

The De Ridder-Babel combination almost bore fruit again 12 minutes into the second half when the former's low ball from the right almost found its target but Bailly was alive to the threat at the near post.

Babel then drifted progressively out of the game, in line with the Netherlands' general performance, a combination of tiredness at three games in a week coupled with the Belgian defence's stout organisation and determination keeping him under wraps.

He came off to a good round of applause with 12 minutes remaining and the match tied at 2-2, but his early flair in a tough derby match showed real star potential.

- REDA MAHER -