Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says his club is the best place for young English talent.

Wenger insists it is important that up-and-coming homegrown players get the chance to prove their worth from an early age.

"I believe that for an English player, you have to start to play at 18 at the top level if you want to become an international player," he told arsenal.com.

"They all played at 18 - Thierry, Ferdinand, Rooney, Gerrard. If you don't make it at 18 you have one or two who come in later but the basis of the national team is players who have come in then."