ARSENAL are among several English Premiership clubs holding talks with the Football League about pulling out of the League Cup.

Although the Gunners have no immediate plans to pull out of the competition vicechairman David Dein confirmed the club would withdraw, given the chance.

"As far as Arsenal are concerned, and I'm sure a lot of other clubs in Europe, we no longer want to be in it," said Dein.

"We are under discussion with the Football League. We want it to be an agreement by negotiation and we hope that will be the case.

"We are mindful of the fact that they do have sponsors but it is not the competition it used to be."

UEFA have decided that the League Cup winners will not qualify for Europe unless the Premiership reduces to 18 clubs, and once that carrot is removed the competition simply fails to have any attraction for the big clubs.

"We have to find a way for English clubs to do well in Europe and that way is to deconfuse the fixture list," Dein said.