Striker Robin van Persie has hailed the impact of substitute Carlos Vela in Arsenal’s last three competitive games.

In each of the three three games against Portsmouth, Plymouth and Bolton, manager Arsene Wenger unleashed the teenage Mexican striker off the bench with just under 30 minutes to go and the match in need of a breakthrough.

And each time Vela has added impetus to the Arsenal attack and helped the Gunners to stitch up vital victories.

Having witnessed the 19-year-old’s marked improvement in training, Van Persie is hardly surprised that he is starting to make major contributions in the first-team.

“He brings pace, good technique and courage,” said the Dutchman. “I think [against Bolton] and in the last couple of weeks, he has been doing really well.

“In training, he is doing the good stuff. He creates space for us because when he is on the ball, he can pass it short, in behind the strikers. So it’s all good stuff from him now."