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Arsenal's Jack the lad, 16, is hot on the heels of Walcott
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter24.09.08
This is football's brightest new star - winning trophies at the age of just eight.
Still only 16, Jack Wilshere was being touted today as a future England international after an astonishing display for Arsenal, capped by his first senior goal for the club.
Wilshere's performance in last night's Carling Cup game - in which a team of Arsenal teenagers thrashed an experienced Sheffield United side 6-0 - was so imperious it had his manager, fellow players and even seasoned football writers purring.
His family were delighted too. "I have been to a lot of games over the years but last night was just a wonderful experience," said his grandfather Peter Wilshere, 66, "He did Arsene Wenger proud."
Wenger, not normally one to overblow the trumpet of his younger players, said after the game: "Football is natural for him and he has what it takes to go very far. Wilshere was 15 when I first integrated him in training with the first-team squad and he has never looked out of place."
Still a mere slip of a lad at just 5ft 7in tall, Wilshere has long been destined for greatness.
His football coach at his junior school said today that when he saw the eight-year-old play, he believed he would one day play for England. A feat he has already achieved at schoolboy level.
"He had unbelievable control and ball skill and more than that he had an extraordinary awareness of the game - and you can't teach that," said Karl Fox, who coaches Whitehill Junior School in Hitchin in Hertfordshire.
The school's headteacher was so pleased with her former pupil, she was planning to show the current pupils at Whitehill a video of Wilshere's first senior goal for Arsenal.
"That goal last night was pretty much how he scored them when he was at school," said Fran Bradshaw.
"In those days he had such a reputation as a brilliant player, teams were outpsyched before they even went on the pitch. The thing that was remarkable about him even then was his focus and his passion. He had a real football intelligence - an awareness on the pitch. He used to cry with frustration if the other lads didn't see it."
Wilshere was spotted by Arsenal scouts while playing for a junior Luton side at the age of nine. Mr Fox remembers him turning up for a school practice in 2000 in shiny, red Nike boots supplied by the club.
Wilshere still lives in Hitchin with his parents Andrew, 43, a builder, and Kerry, 41, who at the time was the school cook at Whitehill.
Neither of his parents appears to have any great sporting pedigree - his mother plays baseball for a local side in Essex - but his older siblings Rosie, 20, and Tom, 19, both played for Whitehill juniors.
"Rosie was an outstanding player," recalled Ms Bradshaw, "She played in our boys' football team and she was accepted because she was one of the better players." Only one other girl has managed the feat in 10 years.
Today Rosie remains a cheerleader for her brother. She is a member of a Facebook group entitled God Created Jack Wilshere Because He's Missing Liam Brady.
In recent weeks, at least seven such groups have sprung up on the internet site in recognition of Wilshere's skills.
Even the video posting website YouTube contains a number of Wilshere's greatest moments so far. There are likely to be more to come.
Theo Walcott, almost a veteran by Arsenal standards, has been singing his praises.
"For a little lad he's very strong, he's got a good left foot and his link-up play and reading of the game is fantastic," said Walcott, 19, earlier this month.
He added: "He makes it look so easy when he plays and every time he gets the ball and does something he brings a smile to your face."
Arsenal fans will be rejoicing today at the birth of a new star. England supporters should also be delighted.
Reader views (5)
Funny how times change..
Until recently everyone was saying that Arsenal had no English players. Now all of a sudden there are two future shining stars and we're on top of the league.
Well done Arsene and Arsenal .Keep in going !!
- A proud lifelong Gooner !!
- John Tyme, London
With the grestest respect old fruit, are you a Sprus fan, however, it must be seen how many of the current youth roster make the first team in a few years.
Charles, Swiss Cottage
- Charles Foster, London, UK
Contrary to what St from London thinks, I believe there's every chance Jack Wilshere will make it into the Arsenal first team. And if he doesn't it simply means, in my eyes, that he has failed to make the grade.
Arsene Wenger picks players on merit. None of those English players he has let go in the past (like Sidwell, Harper, Pennant, Bentley) have set the world alight and none of them compare to the players that replaced them. For example, I'd take Fabregas over Sidwell any day.
Arsene Wenger believes Wilshere has the talent to make it in the first team, that's why he is around the fringes of the squad at such a young age. If he continues to develop he will no doubt get his chance like Walcott has (and like Bentley, Pennant etc. did, but didn't take).
If he does leave Arsenal it will be because he wasn't good enough not because of his nationality.
His performances, and most importantly his attitude, so far suggest that he's going in the right direction and he could one day become a great player for Arsenal and England. I look forward to seeing him in the Arsenal shirt more regularly over the next few years.
- Steven, London
I've been saying to anyone willing to listen for quite a while to look out for this young chap.
He has fantastic balance and ball skills and seems to be able to take that extra second when none seems available to pick out a pass. He is also a good tackler and seems not to be intimidated by the big stage.
Let's hope his development can continue without too many expectations placed upon him.
- Philip Booker, brighton
As a disgruntled Arsenal fan, I take this sort of thing with a large pinch of salt – it’s fairly inevitable that after a few years in the reserves, Wenger will eventually sell him and buy a cheap French / African player instead.
- St, London
