Arsène Wenger believes Arsenals patience is their
virtue.
The Frenchman admits it is getting harder and harder to unearth
young footballing talents from around Europe. But they will
continue to be attracted to Emirates Stadium because Arsenal are
prepared to wait for them to develop.
In the past, Wenger has plucked the likes of Cesc Fabregas and
Nicolas Anelka from the youth ranks of other clubs and turned them
into world-class players. There is every chance that Gael Clichy,
Philippe Senderos, Denilson and Abou Diaby could follow suit
soon.
However the clamour for young talent is getting more intense these
days. As an added incentive, new Uefa regulations mean Champions
League sides must have a minimum of six locally-trained players
in the squad. This figure will rise to eight next season.
"It's a harder trick to pull off buying younger players, said
Wenger. But I am not too much worried about the competition
because [the players] will always go where they think they get the
chance.
Not many clubs have the patience to give them a go. They will make
them wait until they think they are good enough.
Here, a player knows if he is good he will play, Wenger added,
speaking before the weekend game with Portsmouth. And, because we
start them early here, they mature earlier. Players are integrated
into our training sessions early so they know exactly what they
have to do.
* The definition of locally-trained players is made up of three
association-trained players who are affiliated to the national
association and three club-trained players who have been registered
with their club for three years between the ages of 15 and 21. Next
season the requirement moves to eight locally-trained players
made up of four from each category.