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Boss on non-EU players in England

Arsene Wenger says that he understands the FA's proposals to reduce the number of players from outside the European Union moving to England - but he is keen to avoid the "artificial protection of mediocrity".

The FA have announced plans to stop non-EU players being signed by English clubs and then loaned straight back out, with FA chairman Greg Dyke voicing concerns that homegrown talent may suffer as a result of the influx of players coming from outside of Europe.

"The best way to respond and to fulfil all the expectation of the FA is to produce good top quality young players"

Under the new proposal, work permits could become harder to obtain. Wenger feels the issue is a complicated one but says that Dyke does "have a point".

"I read what he [Greg Dyke] said and honestly I'm for the competition worldwide but he has a point that it is difficult to get non-EU players in the youth system and then to loan them out," the boss said. "That's where he has a point.

"You want the best players in the world to be here but if you go for them you cannot take them and loan them out somewhere else. Maybe he has a point there. Do they take room in the education of the young English players? I don't think so. It is a deep debate and it is very difficult to have a definite opinion.

"What is for sure is you do not want artificial protection of mediocrity and that's where you have to be very careful because this is a job where we're very well paid, therefore you want top top quality. You want to be the best Premier League in the world so you want to be top, top quality and open to the best players in the world.

"But the best way to respond and to fulfil all the expectation of the FA is to produce good top quality young players. England is on its way but there is still a job to do."

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