London, December 29:

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hopes that a bit of David Beckham’s talent rubs off on his young players.

Beckham will join the Arsenal squad at their training ground, to maintain his fitness before the Los Angeles Galaxy begins their season on March 29. “He will come in January to practice with us, occasionally with the first team or the reserves,” Wenger said. “He can always give good advice and we will help him to keep fit. The youngsters will look up to him, of course.”

Beckham is hoping to play his 100th game for England on February 6 in a friendly against Switzerland, the first match for England coach Fabio Capello. Beckham’s last game for the Galaxy was a friendly against the Wellington Hurricanes in New Zealand on December 1.

Wenger said he once considered signing the midfielder himself, but “for years he was at Manchester United and it was impossible.”