Wenger: Youths will play in the final

Results

Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
31 Jan	7:45 PM	LC	Tottenham Hotspur (H)	3	1	Win

Arsène Wenger watched his young side overcome an experienced Tottenham team to win 5-3 on aggregate and reach the Carling Cup final.

The Arsenal manager then handed his young team a massive boost by saying that they will be playing in the final against Chelsea.

However, the Frenchman also indicated that he will be looking to field some of the more experienced players as well, and that it was important to get the balance of the team right for the final.

Wenger said: "I will try to find the right mixture of young and experienced players again.

"There was not one boring game with this team, from West Brom to tonight.

"They play with mental strength and resilience, I'm proud of them and they deserve to be in the final.

"It's fantastic to see that at such a young age people can cope with the pressure, they showed great heart.

"They say life is too easy for young boys but they showed they are highly motivated, quality players who want to win and are ready to fight.

"It's a sensational feeling to work with them and go through with them. You know they wouldn't give up as they have heart.

"They bombarded us and played long balls after they scored and we were a bit wobbly.

"But it was all us in extra-time and we didn't feel under threat."

User Comments

Matt Moore The GOONER!!!!

Posted on 2 Feb, 2007 at 12:01 PM - Reply

I spent all day yesterday discussing the 'foreign players at Arsenal' debate with mates (2 x Spurs Fans, 1 x Man Utd, 1 x Chelsea, I'm a Gooner). Arsenal do produce young English players from Colney, however, barring the odd exception, they are either simply not good enough or have the wrong attitude (eg Pennant, wrapping a Bentley round a tree whilst drunk or some-such) to play for the first team. If they are not good enough they are then loaned out or sold. (Rather than kept on the bench a la SWP at Chelsea - no serious offence meant). The next problem is, as commented on before, the cost of English players. Carrick - £18.6m, Rooney - £28m, Ferdinand - £19m, SWP - £21m. AW bought Diaby (possibly the next Vieira) and Denilson (best player on the pitch weds night..?) for a combined £6m. AW's recent foray into buying in young, English talent is Walcott at £12m....and he has a lot to do to be as good as Fabregas, or even a Denilson.

Also, Chelsea, Man Utd and Liverpool fans need to take a look at their own line-ups. Chelsea's first team (excuse me if I'm slightly out) is Cech, Geremi, Carvalho, Ballack, Essien, Makelele, Drogba, Schevchenko. So the English players are Terry (admittedly a good local talent), J Cole & Lampard (pains me to say it - 2 great deals on a then showpony and limited central midfielder) and SWP - £21m. Oh, and Ashley Cole, bought from Arsenal because he whinged in his autobiography that he wanted to earn £120k a week, not £100k, or whatever (another reason for AW to give up on English players). Man Utd - Ok, the Beckham, Scholes, Giggs, Neville(s) era was an excellent, primarily English, group of players. But the starting line up now? Van der Sar, G Neville, Ferdinand (£19m), Vidic, Evra, Ronaldo, Carrick (£18.6m), Scholes, Giggs, Rooney (£28m..?), Larsson/Saha/Solskjaer. Liverpool? Reina, Finnan, Carragher, Hyypia, Riise, Alonso, Gerrard, Sissoko, Luis Garcia, Kuyt, Bellamy/Crouch. So Gerrard and Carragher then....how much would they cost?! And wasn't Crouch over-priced??

Please understand, I'm not having a pop at other fans, my point is that England does not produce enough quality youngsters with the right attitude. This is perfectly shown by our World Cup Team. First XI, unquestionably great and should have done better. But beneath that? Walcott. As commented before, this country is becoming a nation of binge drinking, chain smoking, video game specialists. Honestly, the Kiwis and the Aussies (no idea about the French/Germans, etc) talk about us in that way all the time. I'm sure if quality English youngsters, who can fit into Arsenal's brand of one-touch, free-flowing, quick-footed, attractive football were available, at a 'reasonable' price, AW would be as interested as the next manager.

Rant over! Comments please...

User Comments

• Got something to say?
• Read comments

Vs chelsea