Arsene Wenger says EFL Cup hero Eddie Nketiah will be given a chance to earn place in Arsenal's first team

Arsene Wenger says that he expects Eddie Nketiah to play an increased role for Arsenal this season after scoring both goals in the side’s 2-1 League Cup fourth-round win over Norwich City, but rejected the idea that the Premier League needs to introduce a youth quota.

The 18-year-old made an immediate impact for Wenger, further firing the recent debate about the appearances that the big clubs give their youth graduates, but the manager said the striker will be given playing time.

“Yeah, of course, if he continues to develop,” Wenger said. “It’s two things. You cannot think that a guy is ready to play in the Premier League straight away because he’s scored two goals. He has to continue to develop. If he’s scores two goals, there’s some quality there that we have to take care of.

“He will continue to get a chance. At the moment, the biggest problem of the Premier League… if you look at the results at youth level for England Under-17s, you see the under-20s are world champions too and the under-21s are doing well - and that’s the first time that’s been the case since I’ve been in England. It’s the first time there’s been a consistent level of results in England’s youth teams.

"That means the quality is there and the next step is to integrate them in the Premier League. You’re right, as managers today, we are confronted and the position of managers has become weakened in the past 20 years. To integrate the young players, you need to be strong. That is a problem that England will have to sort out in the coming years, to give a chance to these young, quality players.

"Honestly, I believe that is the final step of the development of the young players, but also the most difficult.”

Wenger however rejected the idea that a quota on youth players should be introduced.

“I’m against a quota because I’ve seen that in my career many times and it never works. Why? Because people get around it. I remember in some countries they were forced to start with three under-23 players and then after five minutes they took them off straight away.

"That makes it ridiculous. I believe you have to earn your right to play and the managers have to be strong enough when they play them if they deserve to play.”