Arsenal have been criticised for signing too many foreign players, with fears rising that the team spirit has eroded as a consequence.

Many promising youth and reserve players have found their route to the first team blocked and have then been sold to lower division clubs, rarely to resurface into people's attention.

Cole's dramatic elevation from reserve hopeful to Arsenal and England regular has shown the trend can be baulked and that can only give hope to his second string team-mates.

Bergkamp told his website: "I have to say that I think English kids do get a fair deal here though.

"For the sake of argument, if I had an English son and he was looking for advice of which club to go to in the Premiership, I'd say Arsenal.

"The youth system is great here now and that is important. Once you get to a club where the youth system is good, it's down to you to make it.

"Look at Ashley Cole, he's done so well this season and it shows the system now works here. He must be such an inspiration to kids here."

The likes of central defender John Halls, central midfielders David Noble and Rohan Ricketts, plus striker Graham Barrett can only be heartened by Cole's example.

But the need for greater danger from the first team's right flank could see promotion en bloc for winger Jermaine Pennant and either of Liam Chilvers, Sebastian Svard or Moritz Volz for next season.

Chilvers had a successful loan spell recently at Northampton and the 19-year-old may be in pole position to challenge Lee Dixon.

That may mean that 18-year-olds Svard and Volz, who were born within six days of each other, in January 1983, may have to wait a touch longer.