Arsenal hit back over foreigners

Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood today launched a staunch defence of the club's controversial decision to select a squad without one Englishman.

The Gunners became the first English club to pick a squad made up entirely of foreigners for Monday night's 5-1 Premiership win over Crystal Palace.

Arsene Wenger and David Dein, the vice-chairman, are now on a collision course with UEFA, the game's European governing body, over their imposition of a new rule that will impose strict quotas of home-grown players.

But Hill-Wood today told Standard Sport: "To be honest I don't mind as long as the team plays the right sort of football. We are in times now when people have to adjust their thinking.

"For me, the nationality of any player who plays for the club is not an issue. If you have good enough players then it does not matter from which country they come.

"The world of football is changing and there are some people who don't like things to change.

"You should not forget the huge impact that one player has had in changing the club and helping us to a higher level - and that is Dennis Bergkamp, a Dutchman.

"These days, the world is smaller. We have young players from all over the world in our youth set-up.

"We have the whole world to look at. It is a sign of the times that so many nations are represented at Arsenal. It is an inevitability that we will have players from all over the world."

Hill-Wood's remarks will do little to placate opponents who are fearful for the future of the English game.

The controversy has also highlighted Arsenal's vehement opposition to UEFA's new rules, which will require clubs to field an increasing number of home-grown players in European competitions, starting with four from 2006 and rising to eight by 2008.