Different styles, same mentality

It says it all about the two clubs’ respective approaches to youth development that Chelsea’s least experienced player in tonight’s Capital One Cup tie will have played in a Champions League final, while Arsenal’s has made just a solitary professional appearance for his club.

This is not to denigrate either method; rather it is to emphasise there is more than one way to skin a cat, and that both the London rivals have steadfastly stuck to their respective philosophies.

In many ways, they are simply implementing the same system — just five years apart.

Arsenal prefer to sign their youngsters between 15 and 18, infuriating rivals but ensuring they can bring through the likes of Serge Gnabry, Thomas Eisfeld and Gedion Zelalem on the cheap.

Chelsea, on the other hand, are making a habit of purchasing the junior members of their side when they are in their early 20s, paying a far higher premium to secure talents such as Kevin De Bruyne, Marco van Ginkel and Thibault Courtois.

These are two clubs who are desperate to bring through their own home-grown talents and see this competition as the best way in which to do so — particularly as both have vital Premier League and Champions League games on the horizon.

Yet it could be argued that each side have brought through only one genuinely home-grown player in a generation: Jack Wilshere at Arsenal and John Terry at Chelsea.

Both have claims on other English youngsters, but Kieran Gibbs was purchased from Wimbledon and Ryan Bertrand (the Champions League finalist) from Gillingham.

Instead, they are bringing through the best that Europe has to offer.

Perhaps the most exciting youngster on display — if he recovers from an ankle knock — is Gnabry. Part of Arsenal’s growing German influence, the 18-year-old yesterday signed a five-year contract at the club with a significant wage increase to around €23,000 per week.

That reflects his growing stature within the club, and Arsene Wenger has no doubt about his potential.

“We signed Serge Gnabry because I believe he will be a great player. He’s nearly there now, and competes for a regular place in the team in the Premier League,” said Wenger of a player who signed from VFB Stuttgart aged 16 for a fee of €117,000.

“He has technical ability, he has power, he has pace, he has finishing quality and he can give a final ball. He’s a powerful offensive player and I believe that he will be a great player for Arsenal.”

There are also high hopes for Eisfeld, who made his debut in the last round against West Brom, and particularly 16-year-old Zelalem, the first player to represent Arsenal who was not born when Wenger was appointed manager in 1996.

Zelalem is currently sidelined with a knee injury but the fact all three youngsters are German demonstrates how Arsenal are looking far beyond the M25 to increase their talent pool.

The Capital One Cup is now seen as a high-class finishing school, but it has led to false dawns with the likes of Jay Simpson, Sanchez Watt and Fran Merida all impressing in the competition but failing to make a permanent breakthrough into the first-team.

The same challenge awaits many in tonight’s Chelsea side, but the likes of Juan Mata, Samuel Eto’o, Demba Ba and Michael Essien could hardly be labelled fresh faces.

Jose Mourinho’s hand has been forced by the decision to play this game two days after Chelsea faced Manchester City, but the west London club’s second string is a rather different proposition to Arsenal’s.

Chelsea’s approach is to sign players who are almost instantly ready for first-team action, anathema to Wenger.

Permanency is an asset in that respect — Josh McEachran, one of Chelsea’s brightest talents, has had five managers since he made his debut in 2010 — and the desire for instant success makes it hard to criticise Chelsea’s stockpiling of players.

Yet this evening will provide a fascinating contrast of styles. Chelsea could have six Champions League winners in their starting line-up, Arsenal a number of kids.

The League Cup was the first trophy Mourinho won with Chelsea back in 2005.

It is the only domestic title to elude Wenger. No matter what sides they select, both know that winning is infectious.

Arsenal (probable): Fabianski, Jenkinson, Vermaelen, Mertesacker, Monreal, Miyaichi, Gnabry, Hayden, Wilshere, Bendtner, Eisfeld.

Chelsea (probable): Schwarzer, Azpilicueta, Luiz, Cahill, Bertrand, Essien, Mata, De Bruyne, Willian, Ba, Eto’o.