London, Dec 26 (ANI): Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that his youthful squad can mature into his best ever team and told his young players that they can be his finest ever team if they stay together over the next five years.

The Arsenal boss said that his young team could also become dominant in both the Premier and Champions League if they play together.

Wenger regards the foundation he has built over the past four years in developing a new squad and moving to a new stadium as the best work in his entire time at Arsenal, The Telegraph reports.

“I hope that this squad will still be together in five years and they will dominate Europe and the league in England. At 21 or 22 you start to be a man. When you are you younger, it’s hard to stand up against a man but when you are that bit older you start to do that,” he said.

“People forget they are an average age of 22. What they do is remarkable. I’m convinced they have the potential to be my best team and what they do now confirms what I think,” Wenger said.

“When you have never won, the most difficult is to win the first trophy. Once you are convinced you can win, the rest becomes easier because you relax a little bit. To win at the top level is a good mixture between being relaxed and focussed. Experience is an obstacle.

In 2007 we were close to winning the title. I’m confident we can use the experience of 2007 to overturn that,” he added.

Arsenal’s youthful team will be tested on Sunday against Aston Villa, a club Wenger respects as genuine challengers for the Premier League title in what he regards as the most competitive season since his arrival in English football, The Telegraph reports. (ANI)