Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has pointed to Major League Soccer and the United States as the “future of the game.”
In an interview with ArsenalTV about the impending arrival of FC Dallas star and MLS MVP finalist Brek Shea, Wenger expressed no doubts about how American soccer “will certainly influence the modern game.”
“Two aspects of the development of the game that will certainly influence the modern game,” he said. “One will come from the States, where football is becoming more and more popular and the quality is raising. That’s one part that will interest the modern game. The second big part I’m convinced will be Asia.
Continued Wenger, “These are two now countries or continents that will be I think the future of the game. And America will produce more and more top level players and Asia as well. And in these two countries and continents we have as well an aptitude to have a team attitude and hard-working attitude and I think once they get the education which we are starting to get, they will produce good players.”
Arsenal will open their doors to the latest emerging American talent as the 21-year-old Shea joins the Gunners for a training period following the US national team’s two matches in Europe during the upcoming FIFA fixture window. Shea is expected to return to Dallas in December for a short break before the USMNT gathers again in January.
“[He will] practice with the top team when it’s possible, practice with the best prospects of the club as well outside the normal sessions and have a contact with top level football in the world and there’s no better place than the Premier League to do it,” Wenger said.
The longtime Arsenal manager also indicated that if the arrangements allowed, Shea could also play for the Arsenal reserve side.
“If it’s possible I would like to do it,” he said.
WATCH: Wenger on Shea and US soccer
