Variously described as ‘the new Dennis Bergkamp’ and
‘the new Liam Brady’, Jack Wilshere now has the chance to follow in
the footsteps of those Arsenal legends after signing his first
professional contract with the club.
Wilshere is the youngest ever player to represent the club in
both the league and Europe and, after turning 17 on New Year’s Day,
has now been rewarded for his rapid progress to Arsene Wenger’s
first team with a formal deal at Emirates Stadium.
The England youth international was marked out as a youth team
player of some promise last season but his development in the past
six months has been remarkable.
After featuring in the club’s pre-season campaign, including
games against Real Madrid and Juventus in the Emirates Cup,
Wilshere was handed the number 19 shirt vacated by Gilberto Silva
and promoted to the senior squad under Wenger.
His Premier League debut came against Blackburn Rovers in
September at the age of 16 years and 256 days and his first
appearance in the Champions League came on November 25 in a home
game against Dynamo Kiev.
His most vivid impact has been reserved for the Carling Cup
though and the midfield playmaker excelled in a 6-0 win over
Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium, scoring his first goal for
the club, before then setting up Jay Simpson’s first goal in a
memorable 3-0 win over Wigan Athletic.
A defeat to Burnley in the following round was a rare low for
the Hitchin-born starlet but he is a frequent presence on Wenger’s
bench and made his seventh senior appearance in Saturday’s FA Cup
victory over Plymouth.