GEORGE BURLEY has told Arsenal they will have to wait years if they want to get their hands on Saints starlet Gareth Bale.

The 17-year-old was last night named in the senior Wales squad for the forthcoming European Championship qualifiers with Slovakia and Cyprus next month and has been long since linked to major Premiership clubs such as Liverpool and Arsenal.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger prised Theo Walcott from Saints last season in a £5m deal that could rise to as much as £12m.

But Burley is adamant Bale won't be following his former Academy teammate out of St Mary's anytime soon.

Burley said: "It is no challenge for us in terms of keeping him Bale because we do not need to sell.

"It was an unfortunate situation with Theo because he was only 16.

"But Gareth falls into a different category having signed his first professional contract with us.

"I saw his parents in the summer and had a long chat with them. They are keen for the boy to stay with us for the next few years at least."