Jack Wilshere

Jack Andrew Wilshere (born 1 January 1992 in Stevenage, Hertfordshire) is an England association football who plays for Arsenal F.C.. Jack Wilshere plays as an Midfielder Attacking midfielder and is left-footed. Despite usually playing in the Second_striker Second_striker behind the striker for the academy and reserve sides, Jack Wilshere plays as a left or right midfielder for the first team.

Club career

Arsenal Reserves

Wilshere joined the Arsenal F.C. Academy in October 2001, when Jack Wilshere was nine years old from Luton Town FC soccer school. Jack Wilshere rose through the ranks and at the age of 15 was named the captain of the Under-16s; Jack Wilshere also made a few appearances for the Under-18s. In the summer of 2007, Wilshere featured in the Champions Youth Cup and upon Jack Wilshere return to England, Arsenal Academy coach Steve Bould gave Jack Wilshere a start for the Under-18s first game against the Chelsea F.C. Reserves and Youth Team. Jack Wilshere scored Jack Wilshere first goal against Aston Villa Under-18s in a 4-1 win. Jack Wilshere then scored a hat-trick against Watford Under-18s, helping Jack Wilshere side to an Academy Group A title.

In February 2008, Jack Wilshere made Jack Wilshere debut for Arsenal F.C. Reserves against Reading, and scored Arsenal's only goal of the match. In April Jack Wilshere made Jack Wilshere home debut, against Derby County Reserves, coming off the bench to assist Rhys Murphy. Against a West Ham United side, Jack Wilshere set up the first goal for Portuguese people striker Rui Fonte and was the scorer of the second goal, a curler from 20 yards that went in off the post. Jack Wilshere then played in the Atalanta Cup along with the club's other Under-16 players where they won the tournament and Wilshere winning player of the tournament.

Jack Wilshere reputation continued to grow in Arsenal's 2009 FA Youth Cup win, scoring goals in the Semi Final and also producing a Man of the Match display in the 1st leg of the Final against Liverpool in front of England national under-21 football team boss Stuart Pearce, assisting 2 goals and scoring himself, whilst being a constant menace throughout.

Arsenal first team

In July 2008, Wilshere was selected in the first team for the pre-season friendlies. Jack Wilshere made Jack Wilshere first team debut against Barnet F.C. as a half-time substitute for Henri Lansbury. Wilshere assisted on Jay Simpson's goal. Wilshere scored Jack Wilshere first two goals for Arsenal in a 10–2 win against a Burgenland XI, and again two days later in a friendly against VfB Stuttgart, volleying past Jens Lehmann to make the score 3–1.

Wilshere made Jack Wilshere home debut at the Emirates Stadium in the Emirates Cup against Juventus, wearing the number 55 shirt. After the match, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger talked about a few youngsters, including Wilshere, "There are some youngsters doing very well for us. You've seen Jack Wilshere who is catching the eye at the moment. Jack Wilshere is surprisingly mature for Jack Wilshere age, you forget how old Jack Wilshere is when you see Jack Wilshere play." Wilshere also played again the next day against Real Madrid C.F. as a sub for Samir Nasri, and after the match Arsene Wenger remarked "I don't look too much at Jack Wilshere age, more at what Jack Wilshere is doing on the pitch, and right now what Jack Wilshere is doing is good."

Wenger gave Wilshere a place in Arsenal's first team squad for the 2008-09 season, and Jack Wilshere was given the number 19 shirt that was previously worn by midfielder Gilberto Silva. Jack Wilshere made Jack Wilshere competitive debut in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers F.C. at Ewood Park on 13 September 2008, as an 84th-minute substitute for Robin van Persie. At the age of 16 years and 256 days, Jack Wilshere was Arsenal's youngest-ever league débutant, a record previously held by Cesc Fabregas. Ten days later, on 23 September, Wilshere scored Jack Wilshere first Arsenal goal in a 6-0 victory against Sheffield United in the Carling Cup. Wilshere started in the fourth round of the Carling Cup against Wigan, setting up the opener for Jay Simpson to score and was awarded the Man of the Match award but was too young to receive the champagne. After the game, Arsene Wenger compared Wilshere to Cesc Fabregas: "Cesc and Jack can play well together, they both have the same potential and they aren't frightened of going into the challenges."

On 25 November 2008, Wilshere came on as a substitute in a UEFA Champions' League match against Dynamo Kyiv, becoming the fifth sixteen-year-old to ever play in the Champions League. Jack Wilshere made Jack Wilshere 2nd UEFA champions league appearance on the 10th of December 2008 in the 2-0 defeat to FC Porto replacing Aaron Ramsey.

On 5 January 2009, Wilshere agreed personal terms with Arsenal to sign Jack Wilshere first professional contract. On 26 May 2009, following two scintillating performances in the FA Youth Cup Final victory over Liverpool FC, Arsenal legend Liam Brady praised Wilshere 'special', and claimed depending on Jack Wilshere pre-season in 2009, the youngster could start the 09/10 campaign as a first teamer. "What Jack Wilshere does in pre-season will dictate whether the manager feels Jack Wilshere is ready to be in Jack Wilshere team from the start, but I think it won’t be long before Jack Wilshere will be."

On 2 July 2009, Wilshere signed a new long-term contract at Arsenal.

International career

Since 2006, the England national football team have decided to play Jack in an age group above Jack Wilshere age. Jack Wilshere was only 16, but Jack Wilshere played for the England national under-17 football team. Wilshere was also 15 when Jack Wilshere played for the England national under-16 football team in 2006. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes that Wilshere will soon play for the England national football team.
On 22 January, Wilshere received Jack Wilshere first call-up for the England national under-19 football team squad against Spain on February 10, it's widely expected Wilshere will move up again to the England national under-21 football team in the 2009–10 in English football, after impressing the management staff in Jack Wilshere breakthrough season. Jack was named in the squad for the UEFA_European_Under-17_Football_Championship in May, starting the first two games, particularly impressing in the 2nd game against Germany before going off with an injury which kept Jack Wilshere out of the final game.

Personal life

Jack was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire and currently lives in Hitchin, Hertfordshire with Jack Wilshere parents. Jack Wilshere grew up in Hitchin, attending Whitehill Primary School and The Priory School.