Newcastle United boss Sam Allardyce has hailed the young squad at the disposal of Arsenal rival Arsene Wenger.

The Magpies head for the Emirates Stadium for their Carling Cup third-round clash with Arsenal tonight fully expecting the Frenchman to maintain his policy of placing the club's hopes in the hands of his youngsters and fringe players.

Allardyce said: "All Arsene's players are young and all Arsene's players are experienced.

"It's nothing to do with age, it's to do with experience and if you look at the experience they have got, they are all well qualified now in Premier League football and cup football and a lot in European football.

"He is top of the league because of that at the moment, on the experience those young men have gained very, very quickly.

"He plays the kids every week - he plays (Cesc) Fabregas every week, so what's he? A kid.

"They will all have Premier League experience. It's not about whether they are kids or not, it's about how much experience they have got.

"They have got lots of experience now and they have gained that experience by last year, those so-called kids - they were not kids in my opinion, they were talented footballers good enough to play at that level - getting them right the way through to the Carling Cup final.

"This time, they should be better."