Wenger hopes for breakthrough

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is hoping a number of his promising youngsters break into the first-team next season.

The French tactician has earned a reputation for identifying and blooding young talent since taking over at Arsenal in 1996.

And Wenger has his sights on another crop of gifted footballers emerging next campaign, with the likes of Kieran Gibbs and Mark Randall having gained experience on loan this term at Norwich and Burnley respectively.

"They have, like everybody, to fight to play, and if they are good enough they play. It's as simple as that," Wenger said.

"For us it's part of education, to have a period of your life to play in a team who has responsibilities and to be under pressure and show how well you can do in the Championship.

"So it's just to get you used to realising that life is not as easy as it looks in the football world."

Wenger added: "It's fantastic because there is guaranteed stability when you have English players coming through. If I can bring a few through I will be very happy.

"Gibbs, Jack Wiltshire, Henri Lansbury, all might be included in the group next year. There is a core coming up, but I cannot tell you now whether all of them will make it.

"I feel we have produced many good players, English players and many of them play in other clubs. We have produced plenty, more than anybody else in England, but not enough for us."