ARSÈNE WENGER might be termed a partially sighted visionary because of his selective myopia when it comes to contentious decisions, so it was no surprise that he failed to see what all the fuss was about as reactions to his latest team selection ranged from the hysterical to the historical.
By naming a squad that failed to include a single Englishman for Monday’s ravaging of Crystal Palace, the Arsenal manager touched a raw nerve with those who believe that the number of foreign players has spiralled to a level where it is limiting opportunities for English players.
Paul Merson, the Walsall manager and former Arsenal player, called it “a joke” and Gordon Taylor, chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association, said that it could be 40 years until England win a significant trophy if clubs continue to ride roughshod over the interests of the national team.
Uefa intends to bring in restrictions on overseas players and hopes for ratification of its plans in April, but Wenger — who is to offer Dennis Bergkamp, his 35-year-old Dutch striker, a new contract — seems unconcerned, while David Dein, the Arsenal vice-chairman, is vehemently opposed.
“Arsène Wenger has a job to do, so I don’t want to be critical of him,” Taylor said. “But this is a worrying pattern for English football. Are our stars of the future getting the opportunities they need? What worries me even more is the attitude of David Dein — a prominent member of the FA’s international committee openly lobbying against the proposals. I find that absolutely astounding.”
Advertisement
The quota plan will mean that, from next season, the 25-man squads of clubs playing in Europe must contain at least four players who have spent three years in their club’s country between the ages of 15 and 21. Half must have been trained by their club and the quota will double two years later.
Dein has already said that the rule will be challenged if adopted and the FA Premier League said that it does not plan to follow Uefa’s lead.
“We’ve recommended that it be used in domestic football, but it’s up to the leagues to introduce it,” William Gaillard, a Uefa spokesman, said.
Taylor responded: “The one thing the Football Association has to do is protect the future interests of the game in England. Surely someone in David Dein’s position should not be encouraging clubs to bring in even more foreign players. I do not believe Uefa’s proposals go far enough, but for people such as David Dein to be campaigning against them is an indication of the problems we have.
“There are enough examples of English players breaking through to know the talent is being developed, but for it to flourish you need to give it an opportunity to play. In time we will be asking what has gone wrong with the national side.
Advertisement
“This is not a criticism of Arsenal, Liverpool or Chelsea. The manager’s job is to put out what they think is the best team for those particular clubs. It is up to others, such as the FA and the Premier League, to look at what is best for English football.”
Wenger was utterly nonplussed by the furore after the 5-1 victory over Palace. “Sven-Göran Eriksson was here, so who did he watch then?” he asked. “Has he signed for a different country?” Research carried out by the University of Leicester, however, suggests that, like Taylor, fans have also become cautious and weary of the imports. In 1997, only 37 per cent of Premiership fans said that too many foreign players were in the top flight, but by 2001 that figure had grown to 60 per cent.
Wenger could point out that Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell, absent through illness and injury respectively, are automatic choices for the champions. Justin Hoyte, a young left back, is also injured, while his decision to loan David Bentley and Jermaine Pennant to Norwich City and Birmingham City respectively is seen as beneficial to their development.
Only five of Arsenal’s 34-man squad now come from the British Isles. That equates to 15 per cent, compared with Chelsea’s 32 per cent.