Hughes: Arsenal in danger of losing 'golden generation' I Graphic: Arsenal v Roma

Arsène Wenger has been guilty of myopia in the past, but the Arsenal manager is likely to be accused this morning of seeing things that simply are not there after making the extraordinary claim that his stuttering side are the best in the country.

The Frenchman chose the eve of the Champions League first knockout round, first leg tie against Roma at the Emirates Stadium to compare his youthful team to the so-called golden generation that emerged at Manchester United in the early 1990s, several of whom are still playing important roles in the sustained success enjoyed at Old Trafford.

Wenger’s words were probably intended for his players rather than a wider audience. In addition to boosting their confidence before a crucial match, he is aware that he may struggle to hold on to some of them at the end of the season, with Cesc Fàbregas and Robin van Persie the most in demand, and that promising them a glorious future is one way of convincing them to stay.

Wenger’s faith in his players is genuine, but unfortunately the strength of his conviction will be subjected to some ridicule. At best, his comparison is premature and, at worst, it is plain fantasy: the United players he singled out boast a combined 43 Premier League winner’s medals and eight in the Champions League, whereas Fàbregas is the only one of the Arsenal youngsters he mentioned to have won a trophy with the club — the FA Cup in 2005.

“I believe this team is as good as anything in England,” Wenger said. “We have to keep this team together. We played at start of season with Walcott, Diaby, Fàbregas, Nasri and Denilson and the oldest one is 21 years old. When they will all be 23 or 24, they will beat comfortably all the other teams, believe me.

“Manchester United had a golden generation with Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, the Nevilles and Butt. They won together because they stayed together. This team can have a similar success, I believe. If you can beat Manchester United at 20 and 21, why can you not beat them at 23 and 24?”

The potential of Arsenal is not in doubt, but Wenger overstepped the mark again by claiming that they are the only club developing young players — a ludicrous statement given the production line at United and many other clubs. It ought not pass unnoticed, too, that the one English-born player in either squad tonight will be Simone Perrotta, the Roma and Italy midfield player, who was born in Ashton-under-Lyne.

“Normally, big clubs do not educate young players any more,” Wenger said. “We feel still we want to have values in our side and they are more than just players who have been bought together and with the attitude of ‘let’s win trophies and parade them’. We have a different idea of football and the game.

“United do what they want and do it well and I do not criticise. But I just say, numbers-wise, we are the only club that has gone for a different policy because we wanted to build the stadium and to get this team to maturity. Look at how many players there are educated at our club, then take all the players from the other Champions League teams and tell me how many of them have been educated at their club.”

Wenger is hoping that his side will thrive against more technically gifted opponents after being held to goalless draws in four of their past six matches. Nicklas Bendtner will be given support by Diaby in attack, but Fàbregas, the captain, will not be risked despite returning to full training for the first time yesterday after suffering knee ligament damage in the 1-1 draw at home to Liverpool two months ago.

“Teams in the Champions League come to the Emirates more positively, but that isn’t difficult,” Wenger said. “We feel we’re very strong and unbeaten in a long time, but our supporters are used to see a flowing, creative game and it isn’t coming off. Now it’s time to take the handbrake off.”