Graphic: who are the academy award-winners?

Arsène Wenger has told Fabio Capello to keep watching Arsenal in the Carling Cup if he wants to find the next Wayne Rooney. The England manager was at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening as Arsenal's youth team beat a Wigan Athletic side packed with experienced Barclays Premier League players and Wenger believes that it will be only a matter of time before players such as Jack Wilshere, the 16-year-old midfield player, and Kieran Gibbs, the 19-year-old left back, are making their mark at international level.

“If Capello wants to have a good selection, he has to come to our Carling Cup games,” the Arsenal manager said. “If you give me time, I will produce England players.”

Despite transforming Arsenal's fortunes since he arrived in North London 12 years ago, Wenger has had to put up with criticism that his teams have had to rely on foreign flair to win trophies. Critics conveniently forget that Wenger has developed England players such as Ashley Cole and David Bentley, but the Frenchman is planning to set the record straight by making sure that his next great Arsenal side have a nucleus of English players.

The Arsenal XI who beat Manchester United 2-1 in the Premier League last weekend had an all-French defence and Theo Walcott was the lone Englishman, but in the 3-0 Carling Cup victory over Wigan, Wenger started with five English teenagers in a team whose average age was 19. Wilshere was the pick of the tyros, living up to his billing as the new Cesc Fàbregas, and bookmakers have already taken bets on him playing for England before his 18th birthday on January 1, 2010.

“These boys have a future,” Wenger said. “We have Gavin Hoyte, who had an outstanding game, Kieran Gibbs, Mark Randall, Jack Wilshere, Jay Simpson - all of them are top-class. There were also a few English players on the bench who are good as well. We have eight or nine players who are very impressive.”

The knives were out for Wenger last week after disappointing results against Tottenham Hotspur, Fenerbahçe and Stoke City. Some of the Johnny-come-latelys at the Emirates had started booing the team during games and complaining about Wenger's refusal to match Chelsea and Manchester United's spending in the transfer market.

Those jeers turned to cheers on Tuesday as Wenger's youngsters embarrassed a near full-strength Wigan team who had been unlucky to leave Anfield without three points last month. “My beliefs have always been the same,” Wenger said. “I am happy that the people who love the club are happier, but I've always had faith in what I have been doing.”

One of the players who has benefited from Wenger's commitment to developing English talent is Simpson, the 19-year-old forward, who impressed while on loan at Millwall last season.

Simpson, a target man who grew up supporting Arsenal and idolising Ian Wright, scored twice on his full debut before Carlos Vela's sublime left-foot chip wrapped up the victory. “English players are coming through at this club and I'm sure you'll see more coming through,” Simpson said. “If you're good enough, you'll play.”

Arsenal's performance was so compelling that the club's supporters have started wondering where the Carling Cup team would finish if they played in the Premier League. Steve Bruce was stunned by the precocity of Wilshere and Co, but the Wigan manager conceded that they would struggle to handle the power and pace of the top flight every week.

Wenger also cautioned against getting carried away. “It would be tempting to play them in the Premier League,” he said. “But the pressure at that level is different.” And the players? “We'd handle the pressure,” Simpson said. “I think we'd do well.”