Arsenal's class of 2008 can pass their test with honours

The former Reading striker had just seen his team swept aside by a Gunners shadow team in 2007. This season, the Premier League will discover whether his prophecy will come true.

Arsene Wenger has never been slow in trumpeting his tyros, but this summer the hype has reached fever pitch. The Gunners manager has already confirmed he will resist the urge to spend millions in favour of blooding more youngsters, with this weekend's Emirates Cup the perfect stage to parade their talents.

Arsenal face Juventus tomorrow and Real Madrid on Sunday and with a clutch of senior players still struggling for fitness, the onus will be on players such as Carlos Vela, 19, Jack Wilshere, 16, and Nicklas Bendtner, 20 to impress. All three dazzled in the 3-1 win over Stuttgart on Wednesday, but this weekend will be a litmus test of their progress.

"This is a young side but we are not necessarily without experience," Wenger said. "Nearly all those who played [against Stuttgart] are under 21 but they have already played many top-level games.

"Vela is integrating very well into the team, Bendtner was already a force at the end of last season and he will confirm that this year and Wilshere is a very good prospect."

Of the three, Vela could prove the most exciting find. The Mexican joined from Chivas de Guadalajara in 2005 for £2.5million, but work permit restrictions meant he spent the last two seasons on loan in Spain.

The winger was inconsistent with Osasuna last term but did enough to keep the club in the Primera Liga, scoring three goals in 33 games and earning his first full international cap. Wilshere, a midfielder who joined Arsenal at the age of nine, could feature in the Carling Cup.

He is also the spearhead for a new generation of British players at their London Colney headquarters.

Arsenal will pocket £7m from the sale of former YTS graduate David Bentley to Spurs, thanks to a 40 per cent sell-on clause, but the difference with the current crop of talent is that Wenger is in no mood to let them go.

Jay Simpson, Henri Lansbury and Mark Randall are all tipped to break through this term and, together with £5m Wales teenager Aaron Ramsey, signed from Cardiff, might restore some Britishness at the Emirates.

Arsenal's former goalkeeper Jens Lehmann believes the class of 2008 can make a big impact.

"I had my discussions about the lack of experience with the boss last year," he said. "But last year they grew in their experience and maturity so it will be even better this season.

"We will see how the campaign unfolds, but they can probably win the title this year."