Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says plans by FIFA president Sepp Blatter to impose limits on foreign players in teams would "kill" the English Premier League as the world's best competition.

Currently, the European Union states quotas - like the maximum of five overseas men in any side which Blatter wants brought in - would breach laws on employment and free movement of labour.

The leader of the sport's world governing body, however, believes that stance should be challenged "to protect the national identity of the football clubs".

French coach Wenger has often been criticised for a lack of home-grown talent in his first-choice team - with not one British-born player in the squad for Arsenal's last Premier League game at West Ham.

England under-21 Theo Walcott has had to mostly make do with warming the bench when he has been involved - making just five appearances this season.

Nevertheless, it is a policy which continues to serve the Gunners well, with Wenger's cosmopolitan side currently top of the table heading into Sunday's match with Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger maintains he never looks at passports, only talent and believes the English game would be much poorer were that to change.

"It would kill the Premier League at the moment for being the best league in the world, certainly," declared the Arsenal manager.

"Why? Because you can see a massive reduction in the quality. If you have the choice between 200 million players or 50 million players, it is less good.  It is as simple as that.

"It will protect the bad players, or those who are not good enough.  Also, if the best English players play with the best world-class players, then they will be even better and develop quicker."

Wenger, though, concedes the success of the English national team has been affected to some degree by the influx of overseas stars, attracted to the riches on offer.

"English people want a very good national team, but also they are very proud to have the best Premier League in the world. Are they both possible together? I do not know," he said.

"Certainly if you educate good young players, then yes. But at the moment, I do not think it is possible."

Wenger continued: "But let's not be hypocrites.  You have the biggest economical power, and that means you attract the best players in the world. The best players in the world make what? The best Premier League in the world.

"Who can pay the consequences of it? Maybe the English national team. But that is the rules."

Wenger, though, pointed to Brazil, who have won the World Cup five times, and twice in the past 12 years, to show that having a strong national side is not always co-dependent on a strong domestic league.

He said: "Brazil are the reverse of England. They do not have enough economical power, so all the players go abroad, they play in the best leagues and Brazil have a strong national team."  PA