Arsene 'never gave his winning kids a chance'

"We have to accept that we produce players for clubs at the lower levels. Like in every school you produce one genius and maybe 90 per cent of people have a very good level but not the level of a genius."

Sidwell won the Youth Cup with Arsenal in 2000 and 2001 but needed a move to Reading in January to kick start his career, winning a call-up for England Under-21s after leaving Highbury.

"It's a real shame for the Arsenal fans who are willing the young lads to be given an opportunity," said the 20-year-old. "You don't win the Youth Cup by being mugs but nobody really got a sniff of the first team.

"A lot of the lads met up recently for Stacky's (Graham Stack) birthday and some of the players who were still at Arsenal were saying they wish they could move on like Rohan has done with Tottenham or I have at Reading.

"It's hard for people to understand the pressure Arsene is under because he has to win every match. But I think even he'd hold his hands up and say he should have given some of us a chance.

"Matthew Upson went from the reserves to being in the England team within six months of leaving Arsenal. I met David Dein (the Arsenal vice chairman) in Turkey when I was there with the England Under-21s and he said it was sad the way things turned out. He seemed to indicate it was a mistake by Arsenal to let me go."

Sidwell joined Arsenal aged 10 after spurning an approach by his local side Crystal Palace. The midfielder still loves the Highbury club but admits the frustration at the lack of first-team chances got the better of him.

"Last season, I thought I'd be given a chance in the Worthington Cup against Sunderland. I sat on the bench. We lost 3-2 and the manager brought on a defender and not me. The next day I said I wanted to go on loan.

"When the chance came to move to Reading, I had to take it. It's important to play in meaningful matches. Jay is having a great time in Italy with Perugia while Rohan is proving a lot of people-at Arsenal wrong with his performances for Spurs this season."

Only two members of the 2000 Youth Cup victors have appeared in Arsenal's first-team - and fleetingly at that.

Graham Barrett was sold to Coventry after just one Worthington Cup appearance, while Jermaine Pennant is on loan with Leeds despite scoring a hattrick on his only Premiership start against Southampton last season.

In contrast, the generation of Tony Adams, David Rocastle, Paul Merson and Michael Thomas that helped Arsenal win the 1984 Youth Cup formed the backbone of George Graham's league championship side five years later.

Although Stack, Justin Hoyte and Ryan Garry are likely to get Carling Cup call-ups tonight, they know there is a long way to go before Wenger trusts them with the Premiership. "There are lads from all over the world at Arsenal's academies now," said Sidwell.

"You could never really know what Mr Wenger was thinking but at the same time you knew you were getting the best coaching available at Arsenal.

"I'd like to think one day I can go back there but if there is one disappointment it's been that English lads aren't being given a chance at the club.

"Nobody can argue with signings like Nicolas Anelka or Patrick Vieira, who were unknown when they joined. But what about foreign players like Stefan Malz, Igor Stepanovs and Stathis Tavlaridis who hang around for years and stop youngsters from even getting reserve-team experience."

Tickets are still available for tonight's game. Reduced price seats - starting at £10 - will be on sale from Arsenal's box office right up to kick-off.