Arsenal's lack of English players has led to some criticism of the club. As one of England's leading clubs, there are some that argue that they should field more English players. Especially when representing England in European competition.

For Wenger, this is a mute point. For the priorities of winning football matches must take precedence over nationalistic sentiments. However it should be noted that he is not English either, and as such might not be quite so patriotic about Arsenal in Europe. With their foreign line-ups, Arsenal almost won the Champions' League not long ago.

It has been argued that the price of top quality English players, the sought that Arsenal seek (we assume), has escalated to the point that even they have difficulty in meeting the prices. Rooney, Ferdinand, Lampard, Gerrard and co will all carry multi-million pound transfer fees. Foreign players can be plucked at a bargain price in comparison. Henry, for example, was snipped for only 9m from Juventus. Van Persie for just 2.5 million. So, it is perhaps not surprising that Arsenal have strayed away from investing in English players when suitable foreign players can be purchased more cheaply.

Arsenal's fans, I don't expect have a huge complaint about this either. The Emirates is full to capacity, and Arsenal play some of the Premiership's best football. The plucky Frenchman, Henry, is their record goal scorer while the likes of Bergkamp and Viera are regarded almost as highly. The last of Arsenal's famous English contingent, the likes of Seaman and Adams, have passed to history. Likewise no trophies have been delivered recently, but Arsenal will finish the season third just adrift of the top two.

The Premiership is also strong. The big four clubs dominate the Champions' League at the moment. They all have foreigners in their line-ups who have enabled this, and it cannot be said the Premiership is weakened by that. In fact, I suspect that's half the reason why it is more widely watched than Serie A.

For Capello, and the English football team, there might be more of a problem. The FA has recently stated that only 38% of Premiership footballers are British. And that's British for Scots and Welshmen too. This compares unfavorably with the likes of world champions Italy, who can pick more Italians from Serie A. Is it a coincidence that England will sit out the next Euro championships?

Capello doesn't have so much talent to choose from, and when he looks towards the top English clubs what will he find at Arsenal? Theo Walcott, Justin Hoyte perhaps, and not a great deal else. Arsenal's young squad is spearheaded by the 21 year old Fabregas, and he is a Spanish national. The English talent at Arsenal does not compare that favorably with Manchester Utd, who can boast key players in Rooney and Ferdinand. Or indeed Chelsea, who have Lampard, Terry and Cole in their line-up.

So it must be said, while Arsenal's lack of first team English players might not be a problem for them or the Premier League; for the England national team it is not such good news. Wallcott and Hoyte aside, the English players needed for England to compete at the highest level pretty much simply are not there within the Arsenal line-up at the moment. And I can tell you, I am not a Spurs fan!

Learn more about this author, Matthew Adams.
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