Euro 2016: Arsenal legend Paul Merson claims Kyle Walker has been the best player

Former Arsenal hero Paul Merson has hailed Kyle Walker as the best player at Euro 2016 so far. The Tottenham Hotspur fullback has impressed in his two performances for the Three Lions in France and Merson has lavished praise on the attack-minded Spurs man.

Merson said Walker had been "absolutely phenomenal" amid reports he is set to be rested for their final group game against Slovakia. England need at least a draw to ensure their progression to the next round of the final 16 stage, but manager Roy Hodgson is reportedly set to make sweeping changes.

"I don't blame Roy Hodgson for this one bit − it's a good move to give players a rest, especially Kyle Walker − my God, he's been the best player at the tournament so far. He's been absolutely phenomenal," the ex-Arsenal midfielder told Sky Sports of the Tottenham star.

"I think you need to rest players − France did it against Albania. They left Paul Pogba and Antoine Griezmann on the bench. It's very rare a team gets out in the papers, and it's not the team."

Aside from praising Walker, the Arsenal legend also gave credit to Hodgson for having the courage to rest some of his big-name players for the crucial game against Slovakia. "Whoever goes onto win the tournament isn't going to play the same 11 players throughout the tournament − it's a squad of 22. Our squad is quite level all the way through," said Merson, who played for Arsenal from 1985 until 1997.

"We're not one of those squads where if the first 11 don't play then the others coming in are weaker. Daniel Sturridge would play for any team in this European Championships − he's that good."