Wenger to promote young Gunners

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is willing to give the club’s youngsters a chance to prove themselves in the first team next season.

The 62-year-old has taken a mix of rising stars and experienced first team regulars with him on the Gunners’ tour of east Asia and says he has been impressed by some of Arsenal’s next generation.

Homegrown talent Chuks Aneke and former Borussia Dortmund youth player Thomas Eisfield both scored against a Malaysian 11 on the tour while the likes of Ryo Miyaichi and Benik Afobe have also caught the eye in pre-season.

Wenger says he is excited by the fresh faces staking their claim to be involved in the first team in the upcoming season.

“We have some young players who are already experienced, for example if I tell you Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, you will tell me he is not young but he is 18 years old,” Wenger told reporters in Hong Kong.

“Jack Wilshere is 20, Aaron Ramsey is 21 and we have some more young players who might push up this season.

“On tour we have Chuks Aneke who has shown quality and of course Ryo. We also have younger players who are 16 or 17, who are not with us on tour, who will certainly appear this season.

“We are faithful to what we want to do which is to promote young players and give them a chance at that level.”