Is Wenger unfair to skilful young Englishmen? Not really

When considering the high-profile departures from Arsenal of young native talent, it is easy to assume Arsène Wenger is biased against domestic players. Several rejected footballers have suggested as much, notably Jason Crowe and Graham Stack None of them, however, has succeeded elsewhere - that pair are respectively at Northampton Town and on the bench at Reading.

Only two former Arsenal players are currently on the books of another of England's "big four" - Ashley Cole, who left against Wenger's will, and Jermaine Pennant, who left with so much baggage he must have needed a porter. Only Cole and Matthew Upson have gone on to represent England, and the latter's selection owed much to injuries.

Of other departed Englishmen the most successful have been David Bentley and Steve Sidwell, both of whom have nothing but praise for Wenger. James Harper, Sidwell's Reading team-mate, and Charlton's Jerome Thomas are also Premiership regulars, but the failure of most players to stay the distance in the top flight not only suggests Wenger was right to release them but would seem to indicate that any distrust of British and Irish talent he has is well-founded.

But it is not just the local boys who find the going hard. Many foreign youngsters have been ditched too. Moritz Volz has since impressed, going on to represent Germany, but Wenger is unlikely to be haunted at night, or on Saturday afternoons, by such names as David Grondin, Alex Manninger, Frank Simek and Danny Karbassiyoon, the last of whom yesterday announced his retirement at the age of 22. Stathis Tavlaridis should play against Manchester United in the Champions League this week, but he is at Lille - hardly a European powerhouse.

No one could argue, after this season's Carling Cup run, that Wenger does not give youth a chance. Most of the departed have simply failed to take it. The bottom line is only Nicolas Anelka, Cole, Sidwell and Bentley, all of whom Wenger tried to keep, plus perhaps Upson, would get into Arsenal's current squad.

Anthony Stokes or Sebastian Larsson, who have recently been allowed to sign for Sunderland and Birmingham respectively, may prove him wrong, but are they really better players than Theo Walcott and Robin van Persie, or Cesc Fabregas and Denilson? Wenger thinks not, though such is his nature that, if they were to prove him wrong, he is more likely to be pleased than resentful, for no manager likes to destroy a young man's dreams.