Arsene Wenger has explained why he does not delay loan moves until after Arsenal’s Capital One Cup campaign.

The Gunners currently have 11 players gaining further first-team experience at teams in the Premier League, Championship, League One and abroad.

Some would otherwise have played in Tuesday night's League Cup tie at Sheffield Wednesday, but Wenger has no regrets at letting them go.

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“I think we were a bit punished by the fact we had many players out on loan, but it's difficult to block them until November and not let them go just because you have a League Cup game,” he told Arsenal Player.

“So this season, for example, I had many players go who would have played on Tuesday night like Chuba, Gedion, Maitland-Niles, Dan Crowley - they would all have played. But I think about the development of the player and they are at an age where they need competition.

“We play them early so they arrive [in the squad] at the age of 19 and they've already played two or three years in the under-21s. You don't feel they move forward anymore, they need something different, to feel that their progress continues.

“The only thing is to play regularly for a first team that has a responsibility for results.”