Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger tells youngsters to grab chance to shine against BATE Borisov

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Arsene Wenger has warned his assortment of travelling kids that their futures could be decided in as little as 20 minutes when Arsenal face the heat of the BATE Borisov crowd on Thursday.

The Arsenal manager has undertaken the 2,800-mile round trip to Belarus without the majority of his bigger names, with Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Laurent Koscielny, Granit Xhaka, Hector Bellerin, Alexandre Lacazette and Aaron Ramsey all among the contingent left in London.

Wenger's argument is that three games in six days has necessitated the rotation for this Europa League Group H clash, but that has opened the door for the fringe elements of his squad. 

Arsene Wenger feels the BATE Borisov atmosphere will test the nerve of his young players

Arsenal will take a youthful squad to Belarus with Joe Willock likely to feature prominently

Hector Bellerin (far right) is one of a number of senior players staying at home this week

Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson board the flight to Belarus from Luton Airport on Wednesday

Academy graduates Reiss Nelson, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Joe Willock are all expected to feature prominently, with the caveat from Wenger that they will be judged harshly.

Wenger said: 'This is the kind of job you do not get 10 opportunities to play for Arsenal. When you get it, even if they only get 20 minutes, you have to convince people you have the qualities to do it and you have the courage to play and show your qualities.

'There is always an uncertainty. We know in training, you see in training that the player has the quality. Yes, he is here because he has the qualities. After, to show it during competition is something different. And in my experience you only discover that during the competition.'

The scenario could prove tough in the surroundings, with the Borisov Arena known for its hostility and holding the unwanted distinction of having had a section closed in 2014 for racist chanting in a Champions League match.

Theo Walcott will be one of the more senior players expected to lead the line for the Gunners

Wenger has shown that the Europa League competition is not among his priorities this season

Wenger added: 'I believe handling the pressure is part of it. When you play at Arsenal, at a young age, you have to. They have a new stadium, they have a good crowd. I've heard that there's a 17,000 capacity, so certainly it will be very loud.

'I don't have any preconceived ideas (about the history of racist chanting). I hope that will not happen, and UEFA has always been very strong to deal with that.'

Per Mertesacker adds experience to the squad and called on the likes of Maitland-Niles, 20, to stake his claim.

Walcott and Per Mertesacker will look to help the club's youngsters through the assignment

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (left) is seen as a prospect by Wenger who will start him on Thursday

He said: 'We see a lot of young players training with us - a lot of young players have a good future here, that's my opinion. But as well you need to develop them in a lot of areas.

'First of all, to train with us, to travel with us, to get an opportunity to play is big time for such a young group. But it's now to resist those pressure situations plus, as the manager pointed out, lapses of concentration (cannot happen).

'Those mistakes are not forgiven in high competition so it is a really good test to see who is willing to learn, willing to learn from mistakes very quickly and get on with it. He (Maitland-Niles) is one of those prospects but that means nothing. 

'There is a lot of hard work to come and he has to realise that and no matter what position he plays, he has to take advantage of the opportunity.'