Arsenal Fans Blog

I'm very interested with 1970's Gooner thoughts about Jack Wilshere,

What a find. He is another Fabregas in the sense that he can play against men and not only survive but impose himself on the game.

Just as Fabregas used to do when he was his age. Do you remember Fabregas’s display against Manchester United in a Charity Shield game when he was only 17 or so?

Wilshere has a low centre of gravity which, along with his skill and ball control, uses quite well to trick his way past players. He will be really big for Arsenal and for England in the not too distant future.

Jack Wilshere already at Arsenal since October 2001, as a nine year-old, left-footed Jack is a mature, brave whole-hearted, creative player who scores and makes goals, as well as being a fine tackler.

Last year he scored 13 times in 19 Under-18 league outings, and also scored twice from two reserve team starts, all while still a schoolboy.

Jack Wilshere marked his debut for Arsenal reserves with a goal in the 1-1 draw at Reading in February 2008, then netted a memorable curling effort in the 2-0 home win over West Ham in April.

With his goalscoring exploits for the first team in pre-season, the highly rated youngster has been impressing at Arsenal, and many of Arsenal fans talked about him.

A special report from Matt Fortune ( arsenal.com ) said this

Jack Wilshere is a shining example that talent triumphs over both age and nationality at Arsenal.

In his 11 year spell with the Gunners, Arsène Wenger has, at times, been criticised for failing to develop English talent ripe for senior football. There is little evidence to bear this out and a glance at playing personnel in England’s top two divisions tells a very different story. James Harper, Ashley Cole, Stuart Taylor, Fabrice Muamba, Anthony Stokes, Jermaine Pennant, Jerome Thomas, Steven Sidwell, David Bentley to name a handful; all have made an impact in the Premier League after cutting their teeth with the Gunners.

This pre-season young Jack Wilshere has emerged, and, after his impressive early form, the 16-year old will wear the No 19 shirt recently vacated by Gilberto.

Reserve Team manager Neil Banfield, who has witnessed the growth of Wilshere since the Hertfordshire native joined the Club aged nine, is adamant the attack-minded midfielder can prosper in north London.

“If the young players work hard at their game, listen to the advice of the coaching staff, they realise they will have every opportunity here," Banfield told Arsenal.com. "The manager has always said he will play them if they are good enough, and he is true to his word; he always has been in every way. But the bar is extremely high and you have to be over it to get the opportunity.

“Jack was given the opportunity by the manager to go on the Austrian Training Camp, along with five others who have all done really well. Jack has taken his chance, and he is one of quite a few we have here that we have high hopes for.

“You have to adapt to the physical aspects of the game, and I think Jack is strong enough. It is about how you physically develop and I think with Jack, even at 16, it doesn’t mean he won’t be as physically strong as someone at 18 or even someone at 20.

“That has been the benefit of our Reserve team. The experienced players that our lads are up against means they learn on the pitch. The senior players then show them what to do while the game is going on. That is carried on for the young lads who learned so much in Austria.”

Theo Walcott told Sky Sports about Jack Wlshere :

"He is a brilliant young lad, brilliant kid and it will be brilliant to work with him this year.

"I will be there for him if he wants anything and I will be close to him, but I am sure he will be in and out of the team this year and that shows a lot of confidence for a 16-year-old to come and do what he has done, to come through the ranks is difficult at one of the best teams in the world.

"I am sure he will be brilliant in the Carling Cup team and the Premier League if he plays."

Finally, Arsene Wenger named Jack Wilshere in Arsenal's first team squad for the 2008/2009 season. He will take the No 19 shirt in the forthcoming campaign. That number was vacated by Gilberto when the Brazilian left for Panathinaikos last month.