Wenger excited by youngsters' progress

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Date	Time	C	Opponent	F	A	R	S
31 Jul	4:20 PM	EC	Ac Milan (H)	1	1	Draw

Arsène Wenger is delighted with the progress he has seen from some of his youngsters so far in pre-season.

Jack Wilshere has returned to Arsenal from a loan spell at Bolton, and is doing well to stake a claim for regular first-team football at the Emirates this season.

The likes of Emmanuel Frimpong and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas have also impressed the manager, and he has hinted they are players who could have a play a big role this year, and not just because of the new rules out home-grown players.

After the friendly with AC Milan, Wenger said: "I play the players I believe have the quality. We have, not by coincidence but by hard work, a good English generation. Today you did not see Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who has quality. That is why I play them – because they are good, not because of the rule.

"I gave Wilshere to Bolton last year and Frimpong played well in pre-season, that is why I played him. It is not linked with the rule. Players like Fabregas, for example, are home-grown."

Wilshere has expressed his desire to be more than a bit-part player for the Gunners at this stage in his career, but Wenger is sure the 18-year-old will get plenty of playing time this season.

He said: "It's difficult to say how many games he will play because it depends on injuries, which you can't plan around.

"Also you don't want to give a restricted target to a player. He can play wide and in the middle, behind the striker and also deep, which is interesting. He should get a few games."

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