Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says all his young players that featured in this week's Carling Cup victory over Blackburn are capable of competing in the Premiership.
Mark Randall, an 18-year-old winger from Milton Keynes making his third appearance in Arsenal's first team, showed rich promise against Blackburn.
Swiss defender Philippe Senderos, 22, skippered a side with an average age of less than 21.
"It's difficult to say but they are all Premier League players," said Wenger. "The quality is not questionable. The only thing you could question is whether such a young side can last the whole season.
"But quality-wise it would certainly be no problem."
Perhaps the biggest plus for Wenger was the way his players not only outclassed Blackburn, but matched them physically too.
"I always believe strongly in these players and I'm not surprised by this result," said Wenger. "It was a physical and a mental test during a big part of the game and they stood up to it."
