The squad rule perspective

One of the assumptions going the rounds in the English media is that Arsenal now are looking more for British and English players. The aim is said to be installing a 'British backbone' or the like, as a response to Arsenal's rather meek end to last Premier League season.

But there's more to be reckoned with than the myth of English steel when Arsène Wenger sets out to compose the new squad for the coming season.

Remember the Premier League squad rule? A year ago, every club in the league were trying to position themselves so that they could enter 25 senior players as well as a limitless number of U21s. Not everyone succeeded, but Arsenal were of course well on target.

Let's look at the squad as it is now, as of the players coming back from holiday to start pre-season.

1. Of the 25 players permitted in a Premier League first team squad, at least 8 - eight - need to be "home grown". You remember: registered with an English or Welsh club for at least three years before turning 21.

Since last year, Campbell and Clichy has left. Fabregas, Djourou, Song, Bendtner, Mannone and Denilson remain (for now). Add to them the 1989 generation, who are no longer U21 players: Walcott, Gibbs, Traoré, Vela and Pedro Botelho. Of the 89s only Randall has left the last year.

All in all, there are 11. Botelho's work permit may not come through, and Denilson and Bendtner want out. Fábregas are surrounded by rumours.

So, say seven or eight.

2. A maximum of 17 players can be foreigners over the age of 21.

Arsenal currently have: Almunia, Rosicky, Arshavin, Squillaci, Sagna, Eboue, van Persie, Fabianski, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Diaby, Nasri and Chamakh = 13 players.

That is 24 - or realistically 20 or 21 - players in total, so there's still room for signings, either "home grown" Brits or foreigners from other shores.

Arsenal's great advantage is this:

3. A limitless number of players under 21 years of age (at the start of the calendar year) can be registered.

This is Arsenal's 1990 generation: Ramsey, Eastmond, Lansbury, Murphy, Emmanuel-Thomas and Szczesny. Two are established first team players. Three have made their league debuts.

Those born in 1991 are Henderson, Watt, Bartley, Sunu, Coquelin and Shea. One has Europa League experience, two have played in Ligue 1, one has made his league debut.

And the 1992 vintage are Wilshere, Jenkinson, Frimpong, Freeman, Boateng, Brislen-Hall, Meade, Miquel and Ozyakup. Of these, one is an established first team star, while another has played in the FA Cup last season. And one is Arsenal's only signing so far this Silly Season.

Comings and goings in the Arsenal squad have to be viewed in this context. With Denilson and Nicklas Bendtner set to leave, some of the focus needs to be on players who can qualify as home grown. It isn't to recruit that mythical quality only Englishmen and Scots (and some Welshmen and Irishmen) can bring to any football team in need of midfield enforcers or no-mercy defenders. It is to fill the quota, short term.

At the same time, there is room for foreign recruits in key positions, not least key backup positions. An extra striker, an extra creative midfielder, an extra defender are all needed. And it seems that Wenger has positioned Arsenal well, so that the quality in a player still is the first and foremost requirement for making a signing.