Football
Kevin Palmer 10y

Arsene Wenger: Southampton coaches are 'miracle workers'

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has hailed the work of Southampton's coaching staff as he prepares to take on the Saints in the Capital One Cup third round tie at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

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Real Madrid star Gareth Bale and the Arsenal trio of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Calum Chambers and Theo Walcott are just some of the high-profile names who have emerged through Southampton's academy over the past decade. 

Southampton have also defied their doubters by starting the Premier League season in fine form despite the loss of the likes of Chambers, Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren ahead of this season, with Wenger praising the success of the youth-team products. 

"They are miracle workers at Southampton," Wenger said. "I think if you look at the talents they have sold over the years, they could have been contenders to win the Premier League because they lost Oxlade-Chamberlain, Walcott, Bale plus all the players they lost last season, plus all the players they still have.

"They have done a fantastic job at Southampton, they deserve a lot of credit. Everybody expected them to collapse [this season]. They lost the spine of their team, they lost their manager and they bounced back in such a way.

"I must say when I saw them against Liverpool where they lost the game, I thought straight away that this team is very strong and very good."

Wenger is planning to give a host of unfamiliar names his starting line-up against the Saints, with his own young products Hector Bellerin, Francis Coquelin, Isaac Hayden, Chuba Akpom and Semi Ajayi in line to get a taste of first team action.

Akpom is a striker who has been attracting plenty of attention in recent weeks and Wenger suggests the teenager could have a bright future in the game if he continues to develop at his present rate.

"I am happy that he has developed as a goal scorer, because when he was a younger kid, his problem was finishing. That has gone now," added Wenger of the England under-20 star. "He is a very good finisher and he has now to learn the tactical side of his game. Then he will be ready, because he is a huge talent."

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