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Goal.com 50: Jack Wilshere (32)
Goal.com's countdown of the best 50 players of 2010-11 continues with the young English star, who enjoyed a breakthrough season with both club and country.
Aug 3, 2011 4:00:00 AM
By Stephen Crawford
Getty
Welcome to the Goal.com 50! In this special series, Goal.com editors worldwide vote for the top 50 players of 2010-11. We count down to the announcement of the winner on August 21 with profiles of each and every player who made it into the top 50...
Throughout his footballing career, Jack Wilshere has shown an indomitable ability to assert and express himself on the pitch. Even as far back as childhood, the young Englishman's passion and hunger for on-field glory saw him captain his school's football team to county and district glory numerous times – and that was merely the beginning.
Showing incredible promise in his teens, the hardy midfielder would often represent his country at an age bracket above his own due to his innate ability to play the game with a maturity beyond his years. And this incredible feat has continued as Wilshere has aged, with the 19-year-old now seen by many as the England senior team's first-choice central midfielder.
But how did the starlet find himself in such a coveted and respected position? How has he earned the respect and adoration of his club and country at such a young age? Well, one look at the Stevenage-born maestro's 2010-11 season reveals all the answers.
Having been sent out on loan for some Premier League experience at Bolton the year before, Arsenal rightfully rejected an extension after an impressive spell at the Reebok. Clearly ready for the big time, the Gunners began including the young star in their starting side, faith that was duly repaid by a series of enthusiastic and exciting performances that eventually culminated in the winning of Arsenal's Player of the Month award for September.
The following month, it looked as though Wilshere's momentum may have been halted after receiving a straight red card for a late challenge on Birmingham City's Nikola Zigic. However, Shakhtar Donetsk was on the receiving end of the midfielder's message to the doubters as a sweetly chipped shot shook the net to earn him his first Champions League goal a mere three days later.
The show-stealing displays continued, but his performance of the season would come against an unlikely opponent on an unlikely stage: Barcelona in the Champions League. In a match that saw the heroic 19-year-old complete over 90 percent of his passes, Wilshere somehow dominated a midfield that boasted Xavi and Andres Iniesta with his grit, determination, skill and vision, an accomplishment that led to an eventual 2-1 victory for the Gunners.
The outing against the Spanish champion typified an astounding breakthrough campaign. It showed the world that the teenager was not just ready to play alongside such iconic figures as Cesc Fabregas, but that his passion for the game, skill and composure would serve as an example to all of those around him – duly noted by the PFA, who went on to award the midfielder with the Young Player of the Year award for 2010-11.
An ambassador for a new generation of players, Wilshere's emergence has also served to highlight the fact that footballers need not be tall, brutish figures to succeed in today's game. Using a modest height to his advantage, the midfielder has a tremendous ability to take a knock and keep running, or quickly change direction to avoid a challenge, make a pass or evade a tackle.
Secured to Arsenal until the summer of 2016, Wilshere has a solid base from which to progress his rise to prominence. Arsene Wenger can rest easy knowing that at least one of his match-winning stars is here to stay.
Throughout his footballing career, Jack Wilshere has shown an indomitable ability to assert and express himself on the pitch. Even as far back as childhood, the young Englishman's passion and hunger for on-field glory saw him captain his school's football team to county and district glory numerous times – and that was merely the beginning.
Showing incredible promise in his teens, the hardy midfielder would often represent his country at an age bracket above his own due to his innate ability to play the game with a maturity beyond his years. And this incredible feat has continued as Wilshere has aged, with the 19-year-old now seen by many as the England senior team's first-choice central midfielder.
But how did the starlet find himself in such a coveted and respected position? How has he earned the respect and adoration of his club and country at such a young age? Well, one look at the Stevenage-born maestro's 2010-11 season reveals all the answers.
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"We would have gone through [to the European Championship semifinals] if we'd had Jack Wilshere in the team." - Under 21 captain Michael Mancienne
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Having been sent out on loan for some Premier League experience at Bolton the year before, Arsenal rightfully rejected an extension after an impressive spell at the Reebok. Clearly ready for the big time, the Gunners began including the young star in their starting side, faith that was duly repaid by a series of enthusiastic and exciting performances that eventually culminated in the winning of Arsenal's Player of the Month award for September.
The following month, it looked as though Wilshere's momentum may have been halted after receiving a straight red card for a late challenge on Birmingham City's Nikola Zigic. However, Shakhtar Donetsk was on the receiving end of the midfielder's message to the doubters as a sweetly chipped shot shook the net to earn him his first Champions League goal a mere three days later.
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| CHAMPIONS LEAGUE: ARSENAL 2-1 BARCELONA |
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| Wilshere's mature performance against Barcelona saw to it that Xavi, hailed at the best central midfielder in the world, was not able to boss the game from the middle of the pitch. |
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The outing against the Spanish champion typified an astounding breakthrough campaign. It showed the world that the teenager was not just ready to play alongside such iconic figures as Cesc Fabregas, but that his passion for the game, skill and composure would serve as an example to all of those around him – duly noted by the PFA, who went on to award the midfielder with the Young Player of the Year award for 2010-11.
An ambassador for a new generation of players, Wilshere's emergence has also served to highlight the fact that footballers need not be tall, brutish figures to succeed in today's game. Using a modest height to his advantage, the midfielder has a tremendous ability to take a knock and keep running, or quickly change direction to avoid a challenge, make a pass or evade a tackle.
| "Wilshere isn't merely ready to play next to Arsenal's icons, he is setting an example." |
We would have gone through if we'd had Jack Wilshere in the team.
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