by Tim Carter

Created on: August 14, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

This question needs to be analysed from a number of different angles.Normally when it is asked, the implication is that the lack of English players in the Arsenal team is harmful to the national teams' progress. When the England team is not doing that well, as at present, the easy option is to blame one of the top clubs for not using more English players regularly.It is not Arsene Wenger`s responsibility however to ensure success for the English national team. Wenger`s aim is to achieve success for Arsenal and if English players are not good enough to contribute to that ambition then they should not get in the team. On the other hand if they are good enough they will get in the team and exposure in the Arsenal team in top level competition will undoubtedly lead to selection for the national team and subsequently not be viewed as a problem.

Ashley Cole established a place in the Arsenal team and then made the England full back position his own.Being one of the few players in the Arsenal team then was not a problem for him,Arsenal or England.Cole`s decision to move to Chelsea was nothing to do with this issue, more a financial and team success assessment. David Bentley,in comparison,was unable to break into Arsenal's first team on a regular basis because at the time his preferred role was the same as Dennis Bergkamp's. Bergkamp was an Arsenal legend who made and scored goals with an ability unmatched at the club. Wenger could have kept Bentley in the reserves but was willing to sell him on to Blackburn where he made his name as a talented right midfielder. It should be noted that his main competition for a position in the England team is David Beckham.So, once again the lack of English players in the Arsenal team was not a problem.A talented player has been allowed to develop at his own pace and is now ready to try and break into the England team as Beckham's international career comes to an end. Theo Walcott`s development is the third and most convincing argument as to why it is not a problem. He was selected for England when he was in Arsenal`s reserve team. The fact that he did not play in any of the 2006 World Cup games showed that the lack of English players in Arsenal`s team was not the problem,more he wasn`t good enough to play for England at that stage. Since the Wenger has gently nurtured him to the point where I would confidently predict he will play in a significant number of games this year which will re-open the door to the England squad for him.

The final alternative to answering this question is to decide whether the lack of English players is a problem for Arsenal themselves.It is fair to say however that they have generally achieved a high level of success with or without English players in the team.The last three years have seen no trophies for Arsenal but that has coincided with the emergence of Chelsea,the continued power of Manchester United and the financial implications of funding the building of a new stadium. Arsenal heve still reached the final of the Champions League and regularly copeted towards the top of the Premiership during this period.The overwhelming conclusion is that if an English player is good enough he will play and that if English players are not playing for Arsenal it is not a problem for club or country.

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