Wenger on English-born players debate

Arsene Wenger fully supports Greg Dyke’s plans to improve the England national team - as long as the measures taken are efficient.

FA chairman Dyke wants to increase the minimum number of homegrown players in club squads from eight to 12 but is facing opposition from the Premier League.

While Wenger can see some initial problems with the proposals, he says he is happy to contribute to the quality of the England team.

“I support every single measure that improves the English national team but it has to be efficient,” the Arsenal manager explained. “Sometimes what looks a good solution is not necessarily the right one.

“What is the heart of the problem? First of all between 1966 and 1996 there were no foreign players in England and it didn’t improve too much the performances of the national team.

“I think between 16 and 21 the English youth teams, until now, have not performed. So that's the heart of the problem. Let’s get better at that level, then if there is a problem integrating these players in the top teams, we have to do something about it.

"I think today you have to be very brave to integrate the young players in the top teams because the pressure is very high," added Wenger.

“I still believe when the players are good enough, they play. You speak about Raheem Sterling and Harry Kane. Nobody stops the quality, no matter where they are from. So let’s focus on that first.”