Wenger names 18-man squad for Carling Cup
Arsène Wenger has named 13 teenagers in his 18-man squad for tonight's Carling Cup tie against Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium.
A semblance of first-team experience is offered by Alex Song (21), Nicklas Bendtner (20), Johan Djourou (21) and Lukasz Fabianski (23) but, essentially, the Frenchman will field a youth team against the Blades.
Rising star Jack Wilshere, age 16 years 267 days, could start his first competitive game for the Club. But he is not the youngest Arsenal player in the squad. First-year scholar Emmanuel Frimpong has that distinction - he is nine days younger than Wilshere.
12. Carlos VELA (Age 19)
16. Aaron RAMSEY (Age 17)
17. Alex SONG (Age 21)
19. Jack WILSHERE (Age 16)
20. Johan DJOUROU (Age 21)
21. Lukasz FABIANSKI (GK) (Age 23)
24. Vito MANNONE (GK) (Age 20)
26. Nicklas BENDTNER (Age 20)
35. Francis COQUELIN (Age 17)
38. Jay EMMANUEL-THOMAS (Age 17)
40. Kieran GIBBS (Age 18)
41. Gavin HOYTE (Age 18)
42. Henri LANSBURY (Age 17)
43. Fran MERIDA (Age 18)
46. Abu OGOGO (Age 18)
47. Mark RANDALL (Age 18)
50. Jay SIMPSON (Age 19)
56. Emmanuel FRIMPONG (Age 16)
