Arsenal

Arsene Wenger: Work permit rule "will kill attractiveness of Premier League"

By Daniel Lewis, Senior ReporterPublished: 23 January 2015 6:30 AM

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger calls on the FA to help scrap work permit regulations which he believes could "kill" the attractiveness of playing in the Premier League.

Arsene Wenger has warned that unless changes are made to current work permit regulations, the attractiveness of playing in the Premier League will be 'killed'.

The Arsenal manager has hit red tape in his pursuit of signing Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal, needing the green light from Home Office officials as the 24-year-old has yet to represent his national side Brazil.

Football Association chairman Greg Dyke also announced last year that the number of non-EU players within English football will by reduced by up to 50% in the coming years, something with which Wenger disagrees.

"Ideally it would open completely, and anyone could come in," he is quoted as saying by BBC Sport. "You could close completely the borders of the country and play only with English players. What will that do? That will kill the attractiveness of the Premier League worldwide.

"The second option is to say 'look we have the best league in the world, so let's produce the best players in the world'. One thing is for sure, if you put a young player with top level players, he has more chance to develop. If you put him with average players he has more chance to remain average."

In order to land Paulista, Arsenal must convince the Home Office that the youngster is an "exceptional talent".