Arsene Wenger says Aaron Ramsey needs to be patient in his bid to become a first-team regular at Arsenal.
Midfielder Ramsey, 18, has made eight starts for the Gunners since his £5m summer switch from Cardiff City, including four in the Champions League.
But Wenger said he is not quite ready to be a regular at the Emirates.
"He's still a bit short [of that]," Wenger told the Arsenal website. "The Premier League is the Premier League and you need to be a man."
Wales international Ramsey has enjoyed a meteoric rise to the top flight since making his Cardiff debut in April 2007, aged just 16 years and 124 days.
He went on to make 22 appearances for the Welsh side, including a substitute appearance in last season's FA Cup final against Portsmouth at Wembley Stadium.
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He also became the youngest player to represent his country at Under-21 level in August 2007 and made his senior Wales debut in the 1-0 win over Denmark last November.
Manchester United and Everton were also in the race to sign the youngster before he chose Arsenal.
Ramsey has been involved in every first-team squad since the start of November, mostly on the bench.
He has even made his Champions League bow, scoring a first European goal in the process away against Fenerbahce.
But Ramsey is yet to start a Premier League game.
"He can play in some games," said Wenger. "But if you're asking me if he can play every week, every three days, I don't think he's ready yet.
"But he shows that he has the quality, that he can do it soon.
"I really think he will be a great player."
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