David Showell
Arsenal’s teenage sensation Jack Wilshere has the world at his left foot. Not yet 18, the youngster is on the verge of the first-team already, and may prove to be the heir apparent to the future of Arsenal Football Club.
Blessed with great skill and a superb passing game, Wilshere may have burst onto the scene in recent months, but at the Emirates he has been known to one and all for some time now. As a regular member (and goalscorer) of various youth and reserve teams, the coaching staff at Arsenal are not remotely surprised at the emergence of this baby-faced wunderkind.
Jack Andrew Wilshere was born on New Year’s Day 1992, and joined Arsenal as a nine-year-old. He rose through the levels and helped the club’s younger teams secure trophies and titles along the way. It was no surprise when he broke into the first-team, and already Wilshere is even being mentioned as a possible member of England’s 2010 World Cup squad. Such talk may or may not prove to be premature, but there are plenty of people at Arsenal who are sure he would be more than ready.
One of the first things people noticed when Wilshere played for the first-team was his strength. No matter how gifted players are at a young age, they need to be extra-strong to cope with the demands of football at the top level. Wilshere has so far proved more than capable of taking, and indeed giving, a bit of punishment.
Looking into the not too distant future at Arsenal, Wilshere’s emergence may prove to be of paramount importance. At some point, midfield genius Cesc Fabregas will surely return to Spain, and presumably that will be for many millions of pounds. If the young Englishman continues to develop in the same way as he has so far, the club may well have a ready-made replacement on the books. To a club like Arsenal, who don’t exactly throw money around during transfer windows, Wilshere could save them a fortune.
Wilshere’s emergence in the first-team began with pre-season friendlies in the summer of 2008. He made a goal against Barnet, scored two against Burgenland then followed that with a goal against VfB Stuttgart, volleying past, of all people, a certain Jens Lehmann. The talented youngster continued in the same vein with an Emirates Stadium debut against Juventus. The following day, he came on as a sub against the mighty Real Madrid. All this, and the midfielder was still only 16. While most boys his age are sitting in McDonalds trying to impress girls with their chat-up lines, Wilshere was battling the likes of David Trezeguet for possession.
In September, Wilshere made his competitive debut against Blackburn Rovers aged just 16 years and 256 days. In becoming Arsenal’s youngest ever player, he took the record away from a certain Cesc Fabregas. Shortly after, he scored in a 6-0 demolition of Sheffield United in the Carling Cup. People were sitting up and taking notice all over the country. In a later round, Wilshere won a bottle of champagne as Man of the Match, but was too young to drink his prize.
In July, the midfielder signed a new contract with the North London club, and celebrated by being named Man of the Match again in both Arsenal’s Emirates Cup matches, against Rangers and Atletico Madrid. A special talent indeed, and a special couple of performances that had Arsene Wenger comparing the boy wonder with Wayne Rooney.
On the international stage, Wilshere has been regularly punching above his weight. At 14, he played for England under-16s, and a year later was strutting his stuff with the under-17s. Many believe Fabio Capello will soon be giving him a call-up to the senior squad. It might be better to make it for an afternoon match; who knows if he’d be allowed to stay up for a night game?
One man who has helped shape Wilshere as a player, and whose every pronouncement will be greeted with the gravitas that his influence dictates, is former Arsenal legend Liam Brady. Now in charge of youth development at the Emirates, Brady has tipped Wilshere to become a regular first-teamer in the near future. As every Arsenal fan must appreciate, if anyone knows what makes a good left-footed midfielder, it must be Gunners legend Brady. Many of the Arsenal faithful are quietly wondering if the gifted boy from Hitchen may turn into another Liam Brady. Such talk is a long way off, and many things can change in the next few years, but he certainly has the ability, and he certainly has the temperament. Time will tell.
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