Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has offered glowing praise for France midfielder Moussa Sissoko, a player linked with a move to the Emirates.

Despite offering little to save Newcastle from relegation to the Championship last season Sissoko, 26, retained his place in a France squad packed with capable midfield options at Euro 2016.

Sissoko’s performances in knockout matches have justified Didier Deschamps’ faith in the powerful midfielder, whose energy on the right flank was crucial in a fine counter-attacking victory over Germany in the semi-finals.

Deschamps is expected to retain Sissoko in his starting lineup for the final against Portugal, where Samuel Umtiti, another who began the tournament on the peripheries of the squad, is expected to partner Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny in central defence.

Germany vs France Euro 2016 semi-final In Pictures 45 show all Germany vs France Euro 2016 semi-final In Pictures 1/45 Joy for Les Bleus. Getty Images 2/45 Allez les Bleus! AFP/Getty Images 3/45 The hosts are through to the final. Getty Images 4/45 France lead the Iclenad-esque celebrations. AFP/Getty Images 5/45 France celebrate their semi-final success. AFP/Getty Images 6/45 Manuel Neuer's mistake sees France goes 2-0 up. Getty Images 7/45 Samuel Umtiti congratulates Antoine Griezmann. AFP/Getty Images 8/45 Antoine Griezmann with yet another Euro 2016 goal. Getty Images 9/45 Hugo Lloris is delighted with France's opener. Getty Images 10/45 Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring the opener for France. AFP/Getty Images 11/45 The hopes of a nation on Antoine Griezmann. Getty Images 12/45 Bastian Schweinsteiger was not happy with referee Nicola Rizzoli. Getty Images 13/45 Bastian Schweinsteiger concedes a penalty for handball. AFP/Getty Images 14/45 Bastian Schweinsteiger leads with an arm... Getty Images 15/45 Mesut Ozil drifts away from Dimitri Payet and Blaise Matuidi. AFP/Getty Images 16/45 Sweeper keeper Manuel Neuer! Getty Images 17/45 Samuel Umtiti denies Thomas Muller with a brilliant block/ AFP/Getty Images 18/45 Hugo Lloris made a low stop from Emre Can. Getty Images 19/45 Stade Velodrome: a stunning setting. Getty Images 20/45 Manuel Neuer saves from Antoine Griezmann. AFP/Getty Images 21/45 Antoine Griezmann shots at Manuel Neuer. AFP/Getty Images 22/45 Thomas Muller goes close but misses yet again for Germany. AFP/Getty Images 23/45 Antoine Griezmann was in the thick of things. AFP/Getty Images 24/45 Manuel Neuer was busy early on. AFP/Getty Images 25/45 Toni Kroos and Blaise Matuidi battle for the ball. AFP/Getty Images 26/45 Germany fans show their colours. AFP/Getty Images 27/45 Anthony Martial set for action. Getty Images 28/45 France fans ready for a test against world champions Germany. AFP/Getty Images 29/45 The scene is set in Marseille. AFP/Getty Images 30/45 Magnifique. Getty Images 31/45 Paul Pogba warms up with a potential £100m offer from Manchester United awaiting. Getty Images 32/45 A young French fan eager for kick-off. Getty Images 33/45 French fans show their true colours. Getty Images 34/45 True French passion. Getty Images 35/45 Arsene Wenger in pundit mode for the match. Getty Images 36/45 You can always trust Lukas Podolski to cut the tension. Getty Images 37/45 Didier Deschamps indulges in a spot of peekaboo. AFP/Getty Images 38/45 German fans taking over Marseille. Getty Images 39/45 Clowning around. Getty Images 40/45 Dedicated (and possibly sweltering) Germany fans in the Marseille sun. AFP/Getty Images 41/45 Blink and you'll miss it. AFP/Getty Images 42/45 Here's to you, Germany! AFP/Getty Images 43/45 Fans arrived on a baking day in Marseille. Getty Images 44/45 One German fan comes prepared whatever the weather. Getty Images 45/45 Hosts France were confident before kick-off. Getty Images 1/45 Joy for Les Bleus. Getty Images 2/45 Allez les Bleus! AFP/Getty Images 3/45 The hosts are through to the final. Getty Images 4/45 France lead the Iclenad-esque celebrations. AFP/Getty Images 5/45 France celebrate their semi-final success. AFP/Getty Images 6/45 Manuel Neuer's mistake sees France goes 2-0 up. Getty Images 7/45 Samuel Umtiti congratulates Antoine Griezmann. AFP/Getty Images 8/45 Antoine Griezmann with yet another Euro 2016 goal. Getty Images 9/45 Hugo Lloris is delighted with France's opener. Getty Images 10/45 Antoine Griezmann celebrates scoring the opener for France. AFP/Getty Images 11/45 The hopes of a nation on Antoine Griezmann. Getty Images 12/45 Bastian Schweinsteiger was not happy with referee Nicola Rizzoli. Getty Images 13/45 Bastian Schweinsteiger concedes a penalty for handball. AFP/Getty Images 14/45 Bastian Schweinsteiger leads with an arm... Getty Images 15/45 Mesut Ozil drifts away from Dimitri Payet and Blaise Matuidi. AFP/Getty Images 16/45 Sweeper keeper Manuel Neuer! Getty Images 17/45 Samuel Umtiti denies Thomas Muller with a brilliant block/ AFP/Getty Images 18/45 Hugo Lloris made a low stop from Emre Can. Getty Images 19/45 Stade Velodrome: a stunning setting. Getty Images 20/45 Manuel Neuer saves from Antoine Griezmann. AFP/Getty Images 21/45 Antoine Griezmann shots at Manuel Neuer. AFP/Getty Images 22/45 Thomas Muller goes close but misses yet again for Germany. AFP/Getty Images 23/45 Antoine Griezmann was in the thick of things. AFP/Getty Images 24/45 Manuel Neuer was busy early on. AFP/Getty Images 25/45 Toni Kroos and Blaise Matuidi battle for the ball. AFP/Getty Images 26/45 Germany fans show their colours. AFP/Getty Images 27/45 Anthony Martial set for action. Getty Images 28/45 France fans ready for a test against world champions Germany. AFP/Getty Images 29/45 The scene is set in Marseille. AFP/Getty Images 30/45 Magnifique. Getty Images 31/45 Paul Pogba warms up with a potential £100m offer from Manchester United awaiting. Getty Images 32/45 A young French fan eager for kick-off. Getty Images 33/45 French fans show their true colours. Getty Images 34/45 True French passion. Getty Images 35/45 Arsene Wenger in pundit mode for the match. Getty Images 36/45 You can always trust Lukas Podolski to cut the tension. Getty Images 37/45 Didier Deschamps indulges in a spot of peekaboo. AFP/Getty Images 38/45 German fans taking over Marseille. Getty Images 39/45 Clowning around. Getty Images 40/45 Dedicated (and possibly sweltering) Germany fans in the Marseille sun. AFP/Getty Images 41/45 Blink and you'll miss it. AFP/Getty Images 42/45 Here's to you, Germany! AFP/Getty Images 43/45 Fans arrived on a baking day in Marseille. Getty Images 44/45 One German fan comes prepared whatever the weather. Getty Images 45/45 Hosts France were confident before kick-off. Getty Images

Wenger offered high praise both for Deschamps, who stuck with the side that claimed a 5-2 quarter-final win over Iceland, and Sissoko and Umtiti.

“Football is made of opinions, and it is important not to be ashamed of being wrong,” he said. “The evidence is that I have been in football for 40 years and I’m still wrong.

“It is true that Sissoko has been remarkable. One could have asked the question before the [Germany] game: does [N’Golo] Kante come into the eleven? Didier has opted for stability since the team had won convincingly and he had reason to do so with Umtiti and Sissoko.”

Beyond Euro 2016 Sissoko’s future remains in doubt. The midfielder gave an interview to France Football before the start of the tournament in which he begged the “club of his heart” Arsenal, linked with a £10million bid to Newcastle, to save him from a season of purgatory in the Championship, though Wenger is not believed to be targeting further midfield reinforcements having already signed Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka.

Though Sissoko crucial in the 2-0 win over Germany it was to be Antoine Griezmann who claimed the plaudits after he scored both goals, his fifth and sixth of Euro 2016, to secure France’s passage to the final.

Griezmann is now among the favourites to earn the Ballon d’Or prize for the world’s best player in 2016. Wenger has rarely hid his disdain for the award, which he feels puts individual achievements ahead of teams’ accomplishments, but he still believes the 25-year-old Frenchman could end the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo dominance that has reigned since 2008.

“Griezmann for me is one of the candidates for the Ballon d'Or,” Wenger told Konbini.

“In Spain, he is not far from Ronaldo and Messi. Age is on his side and look at the Euros: six goals, three or four assists - these stats are not nothing.

“This year he went to the Champions League final by scoring in all the big games, not to mention that he scored 22 goals in La Liga, so yes - why not the Ballon d'Or.”