Wenger: Frimpong can play for England

SATURDAY AUGUST 20, 2011

ARSENE Wenger believes rookie Emmanuel Frimpong is good enough to one day to pull on an England jersey and play international football. As supporters arrived at the Emirates Stadium today to watch a patched up Gunners side face Liverpool in the Premier League, Wenger was talking up the abilities of some of the more unfamiliar faces in the line-up. Emmanuel Frimpong, in for the suspended Alex Song, took his place in the heart of midfield.

Wenger told the matchday programme: "With Alex Song suspended he is one of the contenders for that position. Emmanuel is a ball winner, good in the duels and physically determined - and is very strong mentally. He's eligible to represent both England and Ghana and I think he is good enough to have a chance to do it. A player should go with his gut feeling and we do not want to dictate a decision like this. On a selfish front for Arsenal, he's better as an England player but we have to respect how deeply he feels."