This season may not have been quite as good for the Arsenal `English core´ as they or the fans would have liked but when you look at the problems that are being faced by some of our Premier League rivals in order to comply with the rules that will demand more so-called homegrown players to be included in the squad.
We have already heard a lot about Man City needcing to bring some of these players in, hence the links with the likes of Raheem Sterling and our own Jack Wilshere as well as their desperation to hold on to James Milner. But with Liverpool set to lose Steven Gerrard and perhaps the likes of Glen Johnson and Jordan Ibe as well, they could be in trouble themselves.
And that is why I think that Arsene Wenger could have a big advantage if he does decide to go for the transfer of Sterling this summer. After the young England international was booed at the Liverpool awards ceremony and called every sort of greed so and so by various former Liverpool players this week, it seems certain that his time at Anfield is up.
Arsenal on the other hand are full of home grown players, both British and foreign, and so we could offer Liverpool one of these as part of the deal to get Sterling to north London. But who would it be? Theo Walcott, Serge Gnabry, Calum Chambers and even Jack Wilshere are possible candidates but do we want Sterling enough to let one of them go?