Arsenal

Wenger: Old Gunners Regret Leaving Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsenal Wenger has defended the club’s policy of recruiting young players and revealed how some of his former stars have regretted leaving north London.

Wenger believes that buying established stars is counterproductive for a club such as Arsenal; the Frenchman has usually relied on youthful performers in his first team and feels that signing marquee names would hinder the progress of his young charges.

This season, Wenger has continued with his policy of blooding new talent and has been rewarded with some stunning displays. Indeed, last week’s Champions League win at Fenerbahçe was achieved by a side with an average age of just 22.

Wenger maintains that expensive acquisitions would create a glass ceiling for his youth-team products, who would run the risk of never getting a game.

He told the press: “It is reassuring for people [fans] to get a name in so they feel strong. But if you have young players and every time they are ready to play you put a guy who is 27 or 28 in front of them, you never get them out.

“We want to get them to love the club. We will not always be successful because we lose some but I am confident we will keep 90 per cent of the players for eight or nine years, get the continuity and win trophies.

The recruitment policy of Wenger has occasionally gone askew, and he has lost a number of players before their prime. However, the Arsenal manager revealed that some of the players he helped make into household names have declared their wish to rejoin the club.

Players like Freddie Ljungberg, Edu, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry never scaled their Highbury heights after leaving north London.

Wenger concluded: “On the other hand, I would like to show you some letters of players who left us and how much they would like to come back.

“That is always very impressive to see. That is why I think we have enough strengths to keep them together.”