Writer: Rocky7 
Date:Friday October 20 2006
Time: 9:45AM
Arsenal and Arsene Wenger have often been critisised for the lack of British players to play for our team, a critisism that has been argued, and defended for many years, but maybe that is all about to change.
I have always maintained, and will carry on maintaining, that passports are not of any importance, if you're good enough, you will play, but most people fail to understand that if you don't have a rich Russian backer, then it's incredibly difficult to afford the English players who are good enough (and some who aren't)
In London it is especially difficult to find young English players as there are rules in place (although I'm not sure of the specifics) that stops any English player who does not live within 45 minutes travelling time (I think) of playing for said club. And given the amount of clubs in London, well lets just say it complicates things a little.
The prices of English players are also another stumbling block. For the price of Shaun Wright-Phillips we have bought Thierry Henry, Kolo Toure, Cesc Fabregas, Phileppe Senderos, Manu Eboue, Robin van Persie, and Tomas Rosicky, give or take a few quid. Now do you naysayers see why Arsene Wenger doesn't conform to the media an general football fan standards?
So the general rule of thumb is English players are not worth their price tag, especially to a team who wishes to be challenging for major honors every year.
I'm starting to ramble, so back to the original subject matter.
Arsene Wenger is convinced that after lagging behind for so many years, this countries Academies are finally catching up with the rest of the world, and believes in the next three or four years, it will really start to bear fruit.
Le Boss said,
'I think another concern, maybe, in England, we have developed less English players than young foreign talents. It is down to one basic reason that we have recently produced less talent. Because we have responded later with the quality of the academies..
'But I think here at the club, with Richard Carr, we have really developed our youth system. And now we will, in the next three or four years, produce real domestic talent. Because we are bringing top domestic talent to the club.
I believe that any system that provides our club with great players is a massive plus, it just so happens that this system might just shut a few people up.
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Emirates Cup Line Up Announced (Wednesday May 15 2013)
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Stats: Arsenal v Wigan (Wednesday May 15 2013)
Team News: Arsenal vs Wigan (Tuesday May 14 2013)
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