Wenger not worried by rule change

ARSENE Wenger has criticised new Premier League squad rules – and vowed they will not affect Arsenal s title challenge, writes Jem Maidment. The league now require every club s 25-man squad to contain at least eight homegrown players. To qualify, a play

ARSENE Wenger has criticised new Premier League squad rules - and vowed they will not affect Arsenal's title challenge, writes Jem Maidment.

The league now require every club's 25-man squad to contain at least eight 'homegrown' players.

To qualify, a player must be registered for at least three seasons at the club between the ages of 16 and 21, meaning the likes of �6m signing Theo Walcott and Spanish-born skipper Cesc Fabregas, are considered 'homegrown', along with approximately half the entire squad.

But the Arsenal manager (pictured above) remains an opponent of the new scheme, saying: "The rule will not affect us, but I feel that when you want to be the best league in the world the restriction is bad.

"The only focus for me in life has to be quality in a competitive world and not your passport or where you have been educated.

"What is most important is that if you are good enough you can play where you want. If you want to be the best league in the world you have to respect that."

Another 'homegrown' squad member, Poland international goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianksi, has thrown his hat into the ring to be named as the club's No1 - despite reported interest in Fulham's Mark Schwarzer and Liverpool's Pepe Reina.

The Pole, who failed to impress when called upon last season, said this week: "I hope it will be a breakthrough season for me.

"I have a double task - I want to be the No1 for Arsenal and that would help me realise my second target, to be No1 in the national team.