Arsenal need to cut four players

FA Chairman Greg Dyke has announced tougher proposals on homegrown players, with the ultimate objective being to improve the England national team. The plan that originated back in 2013 has been made stricter due to loopholes in it. One of those loopholes was the flexible work permit rule. The Home Office has already approved the proposals; they will come into affect from 1 May.

The proposals are stricter as players have to be at the club from age 15 to qualify as homegrown. The number of non-homegrown players in each 25-man squad has reduced to 13, from 17. Thirdly, of those classed as homegrown players, at least two must be club trained.

These new rules would have implications for Arsenal as at present they only have eight homegrown players (under current rules). Only Newcastle Utd, Southampton, Man City, Spurs and Chelsea have less homegrown players under the current rules. The squad has 14 players classed as non-homegrown, under new rules Wenger would have to remove four players who came under that bracket. This is because Szczesny, Coquelin and Martinez would not be classed as homegrown anymore.

Under new rules, the boss would have some tough decisions to make concerning his overseas players including Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Mikel Arteta. Some players would have to be sold, in line with the requirements posed by these proposals. It may be wise to get rid of the fringe players and older players such as Lukas Podolski, Abou Diaby and Arteta, so the quality of the squad is not adversely affected.

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— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) March 25, 2015