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I don't believe that Arsenal's lack of English players is a huge problem. After all, Arsenal have one interest and that is to win as much as possible.

Arsenal are producing some potentially great English players. Justin Hoyte, Theo Walcott (although Southampton can take most of the credit for that), Mark Randall. I have seen some good players released (British players) from Arsenal but I am not going to say that I am anyway qualified to tell Arsene Wenger what he should do with his team.

I think that the emergence of the likes of Hoyte, Randall and Walcott will inspire local youngsters to think; "Hey, that could be me one day". Young players need role models and I think that the current crop of British players in Arsenal's reserve and youth teams can serve as those role models in the future.

I would like to see a guarantee that all top flight teams would have so many home-grown players in their match-day squads but not at the detriment of the Premier League. There is a reason that the Premiership is beamed all the way around the world and it's because the foreign players help to attract interest from their home countries (along with the fact that the Premier League owns some of the best players in the world).

If English players are good enough to break through, they will. But, don't forget this. There is a premium that comes with any English player when linked with top clubs. Wayne Rooney commanded 30 million from Manchester United, Theo Walcott cost Arsenal upwards of 8 million. This is why some top teams can't buy young English talent into their squads.

Whatever you may think of Arsenal and their transfer policy, they have played some fantastic football this season. Proof that their system works.

And, just think, Manuel Almunia could end up playing for England. Something to look forward to at least.

Learn more about this author, Stephen Culley.
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