EXCLUSIVE: U21s boss Pearce in new dig at Wenger

Stuart Pearce has taken another side-swipe at Arsene Wenger in the club versus country row over Jack Wilshere.

England Under-21 boss Pearce dug out Wenger in a light-hearted comment in front of 200 Club Wembley members at a corporate event also attended by England senior-side manager Fabio Capello, accusing the Arsenal boss of double standards.

Wenger last week claimed Capello should still take Wayne Rooney to the Euro 2012 finals despite being banned for the group phase , because "you always need your best players at tournaments."

Pearce pointed out it was a "bit rich" for the Frenchman to talk about Rooney when Arsenal had been involved in club-versus-country rows over the availability of Wilshere and fellow Gunners mifielder Theo Walcott for the last two Under-21 European Championships.

Pearce and the FA eventually backed down over Wilshere last summer, after Wenger expressed fears about burnout.

Ironically, the midfielder has yet to play this season and has undergone surgery on a foot injury suffered in an Arsenal pre-season friendly.

One guest said: "It was done in quite good spirit, but it was clear that Pearce thought it was a bit rich for Wenger to be saying that [about Rooney] while he didn't want or wouldn't let his best players go to tournaments."

Wilshere, who suffered a recurrence of an old injury when playing for England in June, made more than 50 appearances in his big breakthrough year at Arsenal last season and that has taken its toll, even without further involvement with the Under-21s.

Walcott was also involved in a similar club versus country row in the past, before Wenger and Arsenal reluctantly released him.

But ironically, Pearce - who is set to get the job of managing the Great Britain football team at the London Olympics - is likely to have to ask another favour from Wenger next year.

Pearce wants Arsenal's Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey to play for the GB team.