ARSENE WENGER is convinced Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will make England's Euro 2012 squad.
The 18-year-old was tipped to be named in Stuart Pearce's squad for the friendly with Holland tonight.
But he missed out and was instead selected for the Under-21s, who face Belgian in Middlesbrough.
Wenger though has been amazed at the progress of Oxlade-Chamberlain and admits he has found it difficult leaving him out of the Arsenal team.
And while the Gunners boss has tried to be cautious about playing his winger too much, he thinks he will shine if taken to Poland and Ukraine.
Wenger said: "Physically we have to monitor him because after every game he can have a little problem.
"We know now that a large percentage of players who play a lot of games between the ages of 18 and 21 have bony stress responses. I never expected the number to be so high.
"It happens because your skeleton is not completely finished and the bones are not completely developed to absorb the kinds of shocks you get in the Premier League.
"We have to be cautious about that. But you are always in a trap when the player is as good as he is, like Jack Wilshere is too.
"You cannot take him out of the team, you have to keep him there. They can win you games.
"Until the end of the season there is no problem and if he continues to play like this I am convinced he will go to Euro 2012."
The former Southampton ace has featured in 16 games for Arsenal this season, scoring four goals.
And Wenger is especially pleased at how he has coped in the club's biggest games despite his tender age.
He added: "He is a little bit like a boxer in his upper body.
"He has not played too many games up until now because he was on a learning curve but he has a super quality and is not fazed by the biggest occasions.
"To put him in the team against any opposition, it is just natural for him to be there.
"For a young player, sometimes they waste a lot of time getting used to the pressure. He looks like he can take it.
"There are very few players like that, players who look like they have always played in the team."