Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is completely against an imposed quota system of English players which, he believes, would encourage mediocrity.

He said: "I prefer to tell a boy.

"'Listen my friend, you are not good enough. We are in a job that's down to quality and I do not want to give you a job of just sitting on the bench because somebody in an office has decided that you need to be in the squad.' It's ridiculous and it's unfair.

"It is better for that player to play in the second division, where he is one of the stronger players, than sitting on the bench at Arsenal and feeling he's not good enough and with no respect from people around him."