Taylor: Gunners' progress 'tinged with disappointment'
Professional Footballers’ Association chief executive Gordon Taylor is concerned at the lack of English players in Arsenal’s squad, denouncing the victory over Real Madrid as reflective of impressive young talent elsewhere in Europe.
Theo Walcott was the only Englishman in the squad that conquered the Spanish giants over two legs in the Champions League, with Cesc Fabregas, Jose Antonio Reyes and Philippe Senderos among the younger foreign players to shine.
While Taylor insists there is young talent in England, he believes the youngsters are not given a chance at the highest level, which could eventually affect the national team.
Taylor told PA Sport: “It’s an English club but not an English success, it’s probably a greater reflection of youngsters from France and elsewhere in Europe.
“It’s hard to say that it speaks volumes English football when none of the players are homegrown, it hardly a reflection on England.”
Thierry Henry’s strike in the first leg at the Bernabeu proved to be the difference between the two sides, although Taylor believes the victory would have been sweeter of English players had contributed.
Taylor said of the victory: “It’s tinged with disappointment. Arsene Wenger chooses the team and has got them through and the quality is there for all to see.
“However, it would be more enjoyable if we saw Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell as part of it.
“It’s a bit odd to look for the silver lining being England’s players being fresh for the World Cup.”
Should England fail at the World Cup in Germany this summer, Taylor believes there could be ill-feeling towards foreign players who deny a chance for young homegrown talent.
“If England don’t do well at the World Cup there may be a greater willingness to address the situation,” Taylor added. “If they do well then people could say they are learning from playing with the best foreigners.”
PFA officials have now backed UEFA proposals for each squad of 25 to contain eight homegrown players – which would include four from the club’s academy - although nothing is expected to be decided in the next three years.
“It’s nice when we see young English players coming through at Tottenham or the likes of Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard and Joe Cole at top club level,” Taylor added.
“We agree with UEFA in the attempts to have links with football development at clubs. From our point of view we would be happy to support that, although we don’t know about support from the Football Association or Premier League.
“Looking at the quality in the England Under-21s – with David Bentley, James Milner and Anton Ferdinand – and the Football League Under-21 team, I’m hopeful and optimistic but I would be even more so if clubs used the UEFA proposal of eight homegrown players.”
