Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tips youths to impress in Galatasaray Champions League game

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is optimistic the Gunners' young players will repay manager Arsene Wenger's faith in the club's academy by playing well in the Champions League group match at Galatasaray.

Defender Stefan O'Connor, midfielders Glen Kamara and Gedion Zelalem and strikers Chuba Akpom, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Alex Iwobi have all travelled to Turkey as part of the first-team squad ahead of the club's final European group match.

And, amid heavy scrutiny over Wenger's transfer policy at Arsenal that sees him short of personnel in both defence and in the holding midfield positions, Oxlade-Chamberlain expects the string of youngsters to catch the eye.

"All young players have to start somewhere and you have to be challenged at some point, so if they have the opportunity to play, they have a chance to prove they are capable," he said.

"From what I have seen, they have all got good quality, they are all good lads and I am sure they will be up for the challenge and trying to prove to the boss they are good players.

"The pressures of the game at this level can be different for everyone but when you're young, you do play with no fear and that can be the best way to approach a big stage like the Champions League.

"The boys who have been here before have a responsibility to help the young ones to get through the game and cope with it."

With all six players included on the bench for the trip to Galatasaray, at least two could be handed a unique opportunity in the hostile atmosphere of the Türk Telekom Arena and Wenger says Arsenal's rising stars are ready for the challenge.

"Some are closer [to the first team], like Chuba Akpom who you know already," the Arsenal boss said. "You have Gedion Zelalem who you will certainly already know.

"We have maybe two other players who are now making big strides forward - Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is very good, and Stefan O'Connor, the centre back, who looks very promising in training."