Arsene Wenger wants youth to step up

Arsene Wenger has urged his young players to seize the chance presented by Arsenal’s Europa League campaign as they await their opening away fixture at BATE Borisov in Belarus.

He also urged their hosts’ supporters to avoid a repeat of the racist abuse that has previously undermined European fixtures, and revealed plans to meet Belarusian former Arsenal midfielder Alexander Hleb, who started his career at BATE.

Wenger is understood to have travelled without Laurent Koscielny, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Granit Xhaka, Alexandre Lacazette, Sead Kolasinac, Hector Bellerin, and Nacho Monreal.