Jack came runner up for Europe’s best under 21 player of the year award to Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli, but this is not about Mario this is a piece on how far Jack has come this year.
At the age of nine in 2001 Jack joined Arsenal, by the age of sixteen he had made his Reserve team debut and ages sixteen years and 256 days he became Arsenal’s youngest ever league player when he came on against Blackburn Rovers in September 2008. He has moved his way up the Arsenal ranks with great flair and surpassed each test with flying colours.
Wilshere started 2010 at Arsenal in a 2-1 FA Cup victory over West Ham United then went to Bolton for a loan spell in February which kept him there until the end of the season. He scored his first League goal whilst playing against West Ham aiding to a 2-1 victory for Bolton in March. Jack had a successful spell at Blackburn making thirteen appearances and added to his experience. He kicked off the new season at Arsenal starting against Liverpool and making many more appearances in September.
He established himself to Arsene and cemented his place in the first team during September. He was the man of the match for his performance against Tottenham in the Carling Cup. He gave brilliant performances in midfield and created goals for Henri Lansbury and Andrei Arshavin in the North London Carling Cup fixture. He played in the Champion League games and set up the Skipper Cesc Fabregas’ goal against Braga and Arshavin with Partizan Belgrade with skilled back heels. Jack has scored two goals so far this season, the first was in the Champions League in Arsenal’s 4-0 win over Shakhtar and the second was in November where he scored his first League goal of the season in Arsenal’s 4-0 thriller over Aston Villa when he headed home the fourth goal in stoppage time.
Jack has taken the Arsenal midfield by storm; his performances improve with each game regardless of whether or not the team wins the game. Regardless of the final score, at the end of the match Jack’s game stands out, there are a lot of eyes watching him as he is young, English which is rare and at the heart of the Arsenal midfield, everyone wants to see how he is keeping up, and he does not disappoint. He has shown his individual talent with all his hard work and determination. He is not afraid to get stuck in and always gives 100% in games, he is all over the pitch looking to create advantages to maximise the team’s performances. He may be a young player but in some aspects his game is quite mature, he is not a selfish player or over confident he is a team player and understands the value of a team effort. Some in his position may let it all get to them and forget the bigger picture. It sometimes shows when he goes in for a challenge that he is not as experienced as others but there is never any malicious intent.
Wilshere is not always the biggest player on the pitch but that does not deter him, he stands up for himself and does not let the opposition push him around. This furthers the respect that he has earned from the team and fans as it shows that he has character and respects the team and himself.
Jack Wilshere is a player for the future of English football, there are not many home grown players in the League with such tremendous potential, he is only nineteen and is a firm regular in the Arsenal first team, imagine what skills he has yet to develop?
Arsenal without a doubt have an outstanding asset on their team sheet in the form of Jack Wilshere he will improve further as he gets more experience, 2011 will be an amazing year for him and I for one am very excited to see what he will bring to the game.
