Arsene Wenger is looking forward to seeing how his youngsters stand up in a Carling Cup clash with Tottenham.
Gunners boss hoping youngsters revel in derby day experience
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is looking forward to seeing how his youngsters stand up in a Carling Cup clash with Tottenham on Tuesday.
The north London neighbours have been drawn together in the third round of cup competition.
Derby day rivalries will help to add extra spice to the occasion, with neither side keen to be sent packing by their old adversaries.
Wenger admits that he will be going all out for the win at White Hart Lane, but will not waver from his policy of blooding youngsters in the competition.
He believes the Carling Cup provides an ideal grounding for his stars of tomorrow and admits that it will be interesting to see how they respond to the added intensity which accompanies a meeting with Spurs.
"It has got something extra to it," Wenger told
Arsenal TV Online.
"It is good as well in that kind of environment to see your players and to see how will you respond to that challenge.
"I want to win the competition highly, but before we talk about winning the competition, let's focus on tomorrow night and continue our good run that we have had since the start of the season."
Class
Teenage forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is among those expected to be thrust into the spotlight in midweek, and Wenger believes the 19-year-old has a bright future at Arsenal.
He said: "Jay has class. Class to give the ball, class to finish, class to pass people.
"I believe he can play against anybody and score goals, but then again you must earn your place and on a daily basis he must show you have the hunger and quality.
"He has the needed quality without a doubt. I am confident that if he gets an opportunity he will show that."
Wenger is also looking to Carlos Vela to further underline his claims for a regular starting berth.
The promising Mexican bagged a brace after stepping off the bench in the recent 6-0 mauling of Braga in the UEFA Champions League and his manager is hoping he can feed off the confidence that performance will have given him.
He said: "It is about starting the game, carrying the responsibility to be the main striker and showing that you can deal with that. I believe that Carlos can - but then again you have to turn up at the right moment.
"It is a massive opportunity for him, he has worked very hard from the beginning of the season. He is a different player to what he was last year when it wasn't easy going sometimes. He has a more mature attitude now."
