ARSENE WENGER has warned he will soon be terrorising the Premier League with a team of ENGLISH superkids.
ArsenalÂ’s boss is often criticised for sticking with foreign players.
But he is increasingly confident a new generation of Emirates stars will come mainly from this country.
Wenger is on the verge of wrapping up a deal for Luke Freeman — a 15-year-old striker who has already played for Gillingham’s first team.
English kids Kieran Gibbs, Mark Randall and Henri Lansbury have appeared in Arsenal’s Carling Cup side this term — and Wenger insists this is only the tip of the iceberg.
The Gunners chief, preparing for today’s home clash with Birmingham, said: “We have top-class English youngsters at this club. We have two players under 14 and technically they have nothing to learn.
“From 14 to 20, we have a good level. It is the best group of English players since I have been here.
“Our target is to produce good players. It would be special if they are English and I hope it could be a legacy.
“Hopefully, some of them will be in the first-team squad next season. I would love to field an English Carling Cup team.
“I know how much the English national team means to people and I would love to contribute.”
Wenger — who once paid Notts County £2million for 15-year-old Jermaine Pennant — is excited at landing Freeman who also had trials at Newcastle, West Ham and Reading.
The initial fee is around £500,000. Gills chairman Paul Scally admitted: “Arsenal have been impeccable in their dealings over this — a lot of clubs could learn from them on how to conduct transfer business.”
Wenger added: “I wanted to buy English! We are positive about that.
“We want players as young as possible. If you are not on the case someone else will be. It is a competitive world.
“When good players come out, you know you are not on your own — you are competing with five clubs.
“Ideally, we would wait one or two more years but you cannot wait. Of course, the younger you sign players the margin of error becomes bigger.
“Sometimes you see a player at 13 and think ‘Wow, he will be a brilliant player’ but then two years later he has disappeared.
“I have met the boy we hope to sign. He has a good personality, he is a striker and at 15 to play for the first team is already something special.”
