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Face Of The Franchise
Arsenal boss says backbone of Three Lions will be Gunners
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal players will provide the future spine of the England team.
The Gunners boss has in the past been criticised for not bringing through enough English talent at the Emirates - favouring foreign youngsters instead.
However, Arsenal prospects Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs both started for the Three Lions against France in midweek and Jack Wilshere only missed out because of a back problem.
Under-21s Henri Lansbury and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas are expected to progress to the full squad in the not-too-distant future, and Wenger has high hopes for his young prodigies.
He said: "I feel that we have four or five players who can be the backbone of the English team - Gibbs, Walcott, Wilshere and we have some other young players behind who can do that."
An experimental England were well beaten 2-1 by Les Bleus at Wembley on Wednesday, with France also in a tough period following their World Cup humiliation.
Wenger, who was at the game, believes England have cause for optimism despite the performance and believes Fabio Capello was merely trying out new things.
"I am not as pessimistic as you are about England because of that one game," he added.
"It was a friendly and England played it as a friendly.
"It is a very sensitive period for the players because inside the clubs they have huge demands at the moment.
"England were without a lot of players and had a look at some younger ones who are not completely ready yet.
Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal players will provide the future spine of the England team.
The Gunners boss has in the past been criticised for not bringing through enough English talent at the Emirates - favouring foreign youngsters instead.
However, Arsenal prospects Theo Walcott and Kieran Gibbs both started for the Three Lions against France in midweek and Jack Wilshere only missed out because of a back problem.
Under-21s Henri Lansbury and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas are expected to progress to the full squad in the not-too-distant future, and Wenger has high hopes for his young prodigies.
He said: "I feel that we have four or five players who can be the backbone of the English team - Gibbs, Walcott, Wilshere and we have some other young players behind who can do that."
An experimental England were well beaten 2-1 by Les Bleus at Wembley on Wednesday, with France also in a tough period following their World Cup humiliation.
Wenger, who was at the game, believes England have cause for optimism despite the performance and believes Fabio Capello was merely trying out new things.
"I am not as pessimistic as you are about England because of that one game," he added.
"It was a friendly and England played it as a friendly.
"It is a very sensitive period for the players because inside the clubs they have huge demands at the moment.
"England were without a lot of players and had a look at some younger ones who are not completely ready yet.