Considered by many as one of Arsenal’s most talented players, Mexico’s Carlos Vela is yet to make it in Arsene Wenger’s regular eleven and with the World Cup Finals fast approaching, many are skeptic on his chances of getting a regular place with ‘El Tri’.

Speaking on this, the Gunners manager declared he rates the player as “very talented” but added how the 20-year old needs to be patient, stay injury free and prove himself when called into action for a good run of games.

When asked after the Sunderland game about Vela’s chances of making Mexico’s World Cup squad, Wenger said:

He is a good player. I hope he will he play for Mexico in the World Cup. I don’t make the team, I make only the Arsenal team. For me Carlos Vela is a very talented player who missed the preparation of the season and was then injured.

Today he had a groin problem and that is why I didn’t consider him. What he needs is to be injury free and get a good run of games. He is a very talented player who is maturing now. When you are 17, 18 it is easy. At 20 you realise it is not as easy as it looks. He has gone through that stage now and I am confident he will do well.

Even if Wenger insists on not using Vela, it is very unlikely he will not feature in South Africa after the former Osasuna player was a key player for Mexico during the World Cup Qualifiers. Vela was even more pivotal to the side in last summer’s Gold Cup which the Mexicans won by defeating the United States by five goals to nil.