Wenger - Door open for Randall

Randall: Makes Millers move

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists the door is not shut on Mark Randall after he agreed a loan switch to Rotherham.

The 21-year-old midfielder has secured a three-month loan with the Millers after failing to break into the first-team squad at the Emirates.

Randall, who has had previous short-term stints at Burnley and MK Dons, has only made two substitute appearances in the Premier League for the Gunners but Wenger claims he still has a promising future ahead of him.

"It's important that he plays first-team games and that he gets regular games," he told Arsenal's official website.

"We have plenty of young players who need to play in the reserves but Mark is now above that step.

"He is a player I like personally because he has all the qualities. At this club he didn't get the breakthrough yet but I am sure he will be a late developer because there is so much quality that I refuse to think he will not make it.

Belief

"It is an important step of his career and I still believe in him. He has still got a chance here but he needs to gain confidence and play regularly now at the top level in a team and cope with the stress. He has the technical qualities of a great football player."

Celtic forward Anthony Stokes is one former Arsenal player who was a late bloomer, and he benefitted greatly from a loan spell at Falkirk during the 2006/07 campaign.

Wenger likened Randall to the Republic of Ireland striker and the Frenchman believes certain players take longer to develop.

"Some players take more time than others (to develop)," he added.

"Sometimes you have the likes of Wilshere and Fabregas and then you have sometimes players like Stokes who develop later. He has made a great career definitely in Scotland.

"I always thought Randall was a late developer and that he has so much technical quality and the qualities of a good attitude as well. I hope it will be beneficial for him."

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