Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal's balance of youth and experience allows for navigating the Carabao Cup amid fixture congestion.
LONDON -- As Arsenal prepare to face Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when Liverpool visit on Friday, Arsene Wenger insists the club's attempt to build around a homegrown core hasn't failed.
Oxlade-Chamberlain and left-back Kieran Gibbs -- two players who both joined as teenagers and formed part of the famed "British core" who were billed as the future of the club when they signed new deals in 2012 -- left the Gunners this summer.
Carl Jenkinson was also part of that group, but is spending this season away on loan after failing to secure a permanent move. Jack Wilshere has yet to be offered a new contract -- meaning Aaron Ramsey could potentially be the only player left next season.
But Wenger pointed to a new a crop of talented academy players as proof that Arsenal's focus on building from within is still working.
"I would like to remind you that last Saturday [against Newcastle], we played with four players who have been educated here," Wenger said, referring to Wilshere, Alex Iwobi, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Hector Bellerin. "Look at the other teams who play at the top, and you tell me who plays with four players who have been educated in their academy.
"So I think we do that everytime we can. Overall, I believe it remains the basis of our philosophy. I agree with you, it doesn't always come off as well as we'd like. But we are still one of the teams, if you look at the last 20 years, that has put more players out than anybody else."
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain left Arsenal for Liverpool during the last summer transfer window.
Perhaps the bigger issue highlighted by Oxlade-Chamberlain's departure to Anfield was Wenger's ability to fully develop these young players once they've established themselves in the first team. Oxlade-Chamberlain was frustrated with a lack of a clear role at the Emirates, where he was often used as a utility player or substitute.
But when reminded that the midfielder left in part because he wasn't assured of a place in Wenger's lineup, the Arsenal boss retorted: "Is he sure of a place there? It's for sure nowhere. In a big club you have big competition for every single place."
While the split-up with Gibbs was mutual and amicable, Oxlade-Chamberlain's departure was more fraught as he turned down a new contract offer and only made his intentions clear in the final days of the transfer window.
Wenger insisted he wasn't hurt by the decision, and that the club had no choice but to cash in on at least one player, with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Wilshere all able to leave for free at the end of the season.
"At the start of the season we had four players with one year to go," Wenger said. "I wanted him to extend his contract, yes, but he decided to go and we respect that.
"But at the end of the day, I decided to sell one. He made his decision and we had to find a compromise to get the best possible transfer of it. It's part of it. I personally think he'll be an important player for England and that he'll continue to develop."
Mattias is ESPN FC's Arsenal correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @MattiasKaren.
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Source: espn.co.uk