Freeman set for Arsenal switch
The League One side club are resigned to losing their talented prospect, who became the youngest player to feature in the FA Cup when he came on against Barnet in the first round earlier this season and was also attracting interest from Newcastle and West Ham.
With a deal close to being agreed, which will also include a transfer fee, Freeman looks set to follow the likes of England Under-21 international Theo Walcott to the Emirates Stadium.
Despite the current first team being packed with players from around the globe Wenger – often criticised for not giving enough British talent a chance to shine — firmly believes in the next five to 10 years that could all change.
“We will be pushing it through – I want to buy English,” said the Arsenal boss, ahead of today’s Premier League clash with Birmingham.
“We are quite well on the case and we are very positive that we will find an agreement with the club without going to compensation. We will pay them a transfer (fee).”
The Arsenal boss still believes in getting the players “as young as possible”.
He continued: “If you are not on the case somebody else is on it. It is because it is a competitive world, you do not really choose the age you buy the players.
“When a good player comes out you know you are not on your own, so even if ideally you would wait one or two more years, you cannot any more.”
The Arsenal boss feels Freeman – who was released by Charlton when he was 11 — has a bright future.
“I met the boy, I like him, his personality, he looks alert,” said Wenger. “He is a striker and at 15 years of age to play for the first team sometimes is something special.”
The likes of England Youth international Henri Lansbury and Kieran Gibbs, 18, have both made senior appearances this season, while 17-year-old Gavin Hoyte, younger brother of highly-rated defender Justin, is also on the fringes of the squad.
Wenger believes his academy has more “top class” talent down through the age groups.
The Arsenal boss said: “We have two players at under 14 and I have watched them play. Technically they have nothing to learn.”
Wenger believes the group from “14 to 20” is the best he has known since arriving at the club just over a decade ago.
“Our target is to produce and I believe we are on the right road with the way we want to work throughout the club and that we will produce good players,” he said.
“I have been accused of only buying foreign players and I would like to contribute to the quality of English football.”
Wenger firmly believes England has the talent to deliver international success.
He said: “Once the English kids get up technically to the level of Europe, they will win trophies because they have a mental side that is usually stronger.
“You have the same problems in England that you have everywhere in the world. You just become naturally a bit softer.
“Our grandparents worked in the coal mines and the farms and that does not exist any more. You cannot ask the same toughness, but the motivation can still be there exactly the same.
“A young kid will still want to be a star like before with the same intensity, but physically he is not as well-prepared as 40 or 50 years ago.”
Wenger has been named manager of the month for December but he sees no reason why the ‘jinx’ associated with the award should hit his side today.
“If you ask me, I would like to be manager of the month in May.”
Meanwhile Gunners keeper Manuel Almunia has told England manager Fabio Capello he is ready to take up British citizenship immediately in a bid to earn an international call-up.
“If Capello is interested in my for the national team I am ready to immediately take up English citizenship,” he said.
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