From this season, all Premier League sides have to name a first-team squad of no more than 25, of which eight must be so-called 'home-grown' players. These new regulations will, however, not severely impact the Gunners, who despite having a large number of non-British players have the likes of captain Cesc Fabregas, Denilson, Gael Clichy, Nicklas Bendtner, and Alex Song all coming under the 'home-grown' category along with Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Kieran Gibbs. Players must have spent three years between the ages of 16-21 registered at a club in England and Wales to qualify. Arsenal manager Wenger, though, is not in favour of any such limitations. "I am not a big fan of it because it puts, first of all, many players without clubs," he said. "Secondly it puts the clubs in a weak position most of the time in the transfer market because when you already have 25 players and you buy another one, you know you have 26 and now have to get rid of one. "So when you buy a player, you have to integrate into the transfer how much it will also cost to get rid of a player because you are not sure if you will be capable after of selling the player. "This is a disastrous decision for football and for the players. I was quite amazed that the union [PFA] accepted that. "For the clubs as well it is a very bad decision." Wenger rejected the suggestion the new rules would prevent the "stockpiling" of players by certain teams. "The big clubs will always have 25 top players and you will not stop that by this kind of decision," the Arsenal manager said. "When the big clubs have already employed a player and he has to go to a smaller club, there are only two solutions. "The smaller club has to pay above their own potential or the big club pays an amount of a salary. In either case it's not satisfactory."
