Arsene Wenger has expressed concern over the development of young players – particularly those aged 18-20, in the heat of Premier League competition.
His comments – as quoted by Rob Kelly for Arsenal.com, come hot on the heels of remarks from FA chief executive Martin Glenn, who suggested that young players should be more open to plying their trade abroad in the early stages of their careers.
Wenger hinted at why that might be the case, suggesting that: “From [age] 18 to 20 the competition becomes very important for the players to feel that they move forward,” but states that this is difficult to do at Premier League level: “Because the level has gone up everywhere and there is no margin [for error] anymore.”
He suggests that the problem is particularly acute at these ages but not earlier, because: “From 12 to 18 coaching is very important” – evidently feeling that this gives way to a need for competition later on.
Wenger goes on to say that the u21 Premier League is an inadequate means of addressing this problem, suggesting it is “not the same as playing in competitive games” at senior level and drawing unflattering comparisons with his native France, where major clubs have reserve teams that play in lower divisions, providing youngsters with – as the long-serving manager put it – “competition against adults”.
English clubs do have the alternative of loaning players to other clubs, and Arsenal currently have 10 players on loan, six of them at lower division English sides. This includes winger/striker Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who turns 18 later this month.
