Wenger looks to youth as future for top Gunners

AFTER a series of performances pleasingly imbued with the virtues of the new regime, Arsene Wenger has suddenly started espousing Highbury's old world values.

'We want to have a structure for our wages that is respected, that has logic,' the Arsenal manger said, sounding suspiciously like George Graham five years ago.

Arsenal have been linked to another expensive foreigner, Milan's Roberto Baggio, but Wenger issued not only a specific denial, but also a general statement of intent.

Baggio would not be coming because, 'I don't want to sign the same sort of player as Dennis Bergkamp, because it would kill both of them. It has no history of working'.

But even if Baggio was the right player, he was the wrong age - 30 last month - and, perhaps, the wrong nationality.

Of Wenger's three significant recruits - Patrick Vieira, Nicolas Anelka and Alexander Manninger - Vieira is the oldest at 21 and with eight 'thirtysomethings' in his side, the Frenchman is concentrating on the youth market.

'When you spend a lot of money for a player who is 32, you know you will never get something back,' he said.

Money also affected where players would be signed from in the future.

The problem, said Wenger, was the wages demanded by those who play or had played in Italy.

'Including George Weah (31 in October)?' Wenger was asked. 'Including Weah,' he replied.

Wenger was less specific about Paul Ince, but hinted that Arsenal might find it difficult matching an enormous offer from elsewhere if Ince indeed decides to move.

'Some people are crazy, and we don't have to be crazy,' he said.

Like Graham half an age ago, Wenger is particularly concerned about the effect an expensive new recruit will have on club morale.

'We have a good squad and we want to keep the spirit of the squad, and to keep the spirit of the squad it is important to have logic.' On the other hand he will be aware that the Graham reign stalled when he was unable to add a couple of outstanding players to a squad that had won two championships in three years, and there may be more than a touch of kidology as he distanced himself from big-name signings.

'Once you give a name out, either you don't get him, or it's too high a price,' he confessed with a smile.

One player Wenger is keen to give more money to is Bergkamp. The Dutchman is half-way through a four-year contract and talks will begin in the summer to induce him to stay at Highbury for much longer than that.