Wenger dismisses takeover speculation

ARSENE WENGER has insisted Arsenal are not set to become the latest club taken over by tycoons from the USA and claimed: “There are enough Americans in the league already.”

The Gunners last night formed a “ground-breaking” partnership with American side Colorado Rapids, owned by billionaire Stan Kroenke, but only to extend Arsenal’s brand to the USA and as part of Wenger’s policy of searching the globe for player talent. It is understood the link-up could include a name-change for the Major League Soccer club.

Arsenal confirmed the details of their partnership, but there is no suggestion the partnership is the first step towards another American takeover. It simply involves a link-up between the clubs with the Gunners set to send coaches to Colorado, who are owned by billionaire Stan Kroenke who heads Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE).

In return, promising players from the US side will be given the chance to train with the Arsenal team.

The Rapids, who are to move into a new 18,000-seater stadium in April, will also be using Arsenal’s London Colney training ground as their base for a pre-season tour of England from March 8 to March 13 while a Centre of Excellence will be set up in the States.

A club tournament named the Arsenal Cup open to club teams from all over the US will also be created.

Arsenal already have a similar tie-up with Belgian side Beveren, from whom they signed Ivory Coast defender Emmanuel Eboue. A number of Arsenal players have gone on loan to Beveren too.

The Arsenal chief, meanwhile, has defended Arsenal against criticism they are hurting England — but he admits club football is now taking on greater significance compared to the international stage.

Middlesbrough boss Steve Gibson rounded on the Premiership’s big clubs for failing to help England boss Steve McClaren, but Wenger insists it is more important to maintain quality in the domestic game rather than protecting homegrown talent.

“I don’t think about the national team too much because footballistically it’s not of too much interest,” said the Gunners boss, ahead of his side’s clash against Wigan tomorrow.

“I think the game has moved on and towards the club. It’s more exciting to watch club football and that is the same in other countries.

“Club football has moved forward and international football has moved backwards, because of the multiplicity of countries.”

But the Frenchman did not rule out eventually managing an international side, despite much of his work at Arsenal having been done by recruiting from a host of countries rather than just one.

Wenger has bought Theo Walcott from Southampton and developed Justin Hoyte, but he has a reputation of unearthing foreign talent such as Cesc Fabregas from Spain. It has led to inevitable criticism of his policy being detrimental to England’s hopes, something Gibson hinted at.

However, Wenger said: “If I give you a good wine, you will see how it tastes and after you ask where it comes from.”

Wenger defended the club’s policy, questioning the coaching of youngsters in England. “We invest a lot of money in the academy and the development of our youth team — true that is not necessarily for English kids. But it is down to quality,” he said.

Wenger believes the most important time in a player’s development is between the ages of six and 13, adding: “That is when the biggest part of the player is done. That is why I’m convinced it is the development of the coaches that makes the difference.

“The lack of quality coaches for the young ages is not something Arsenal can do something about.”