Former Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp has revealed that the fierce criticism Gunners boss Arsene Wenger received this summer came as a huge surprise.

Wenger was roundly attacked following Arsenal's opening-day defeat to Aston Villa at the Emirates in August, after failing to secure any new signings in time for the Premier League kickoff.

Since that loss Arsenal's fortunes have transformed, with 10 games unbeaten in all competitions alongside the club-record deal which brought Mesut Ozil to North London.

Bergkamp believes that Wenger has given everything for the club and does not deserve sole criticism over their eight-year trophy drought, insisting that the Frenchman is the right man to move the club forward.

He told talkSPORT: "I was really surprised by the stick Wenger got this summer. Looking back over the last six or seven years where there weren't any trophies it was disappointing, but can you blame just him? I don't think so.

"He's a manager and, how I know him, he's a manager who wants to win trophies. He wants to be successful. He's not doing it on purpose. He's silenced the critics a little bit, although you never know what will happen in the season.

"For now they're doing really well. They bought a terrific player in Mesut Ozil. It's going well at the minute. It's still early days, of course, but they're going into November, where and Arsenal are known for having problems. If they are still up at the top of the league in January or February I think they've got a good chance [of winning the Premier League]."

Arsenal sit top of the Premier League ahead of tomorrow afternoon's clash with Norwich City.