Arsenal have today confirmed Jack Wilshere has been promoted to the first team for the coming 2008-2009 season, and will ditch the number 55 and will take Gilberto’s vacated 19 shirt.
The decision comes after an incredible season for Jack, who this time last year as named as Under 16’s captain. He was promoted to the Under 18’s – with the intention to only be used sparingly – but soon became the star man as Arsenal won Academy group A.
After netting on his first Reserves start in front of Arsène Wenger, the Frenchman soon took notice of his goalscoring and goal making exploits. Pre-season has been where he has really shone, with three goals and a handful of assists during the training camps in Hungary, Austria and Germany saw him became an instant hit over-night.
Following two excellent appearances in the Emirates Cup last weekend, Wenger has dished out three lots of praise, with the latest batch challenging Jack to fight for a first-team place.
“You wouldn’t want to put any limitations on his participation in the season because he is only 16. At that age you can improve. He looked strong enough and not fazed by the big games. The quality is there. I don’t look too much at his age, more at what he is doing on the pitch, and right now what he is doing is good.”
He only signed scholarship terms during the summer, but the contract has a fixed agreement which means it will turn into a five-year professional deal on his 17th birthday.
Further proof if it were needed that Arsenal are working hard to bring through youth talents, but attitude is also important to make the grade here, something previous talented players lacked.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Great!!! I love that he is versatile!! I don’t think we have to worry about injuries anymore with a squad like this! And there are more reserve players who are knocking on the door!!
whooaa…its good news for jack and bad news for other reserve player..hahah..
Wow. Big step and i wasnt expecting that what with Wenger playing down the hype this week.
Brilliant young player thou and the future is lookin bright for Arsenal. I just hope the near near future is looking as bright as the slightly more distant future.
great news
It just shows how highly wenger rates him, and whhat wengers plans are for him.
Updated.
Amazing and brave choice from Wenger, he must have had to think long and hard about it, but it shows the boss will pull no punches on good talents.
Absolutely fantastic. What a rapid rise for him and I’m sure he’ll take it in his stride. Obviously AW will take care of him and use him carefully but it’s wonderful to hear him say that he’s not looking at his age, only what he’s doing on the pitch. This is a very exciting development.
I thought of Barazite when I read this. Wonder what is happening with him because he looked a top player recently. I can only think he has a loan deal sorted out so wenger is not thinking about him.
But its exciting for Wilshere. I hope he grabs every opportunity he gets. he is as good as Cesc at that age and being 16 didn’t stop him.
This seems to spell the end for Jay Simpson, and puts some pressure on the first team’s wingers to perform.
The only downside is look at all the Reserves boys who have been here for longer, they must feel rubbish today seeing Jack picked above them.
HELL YEAH!!
I think he should play some part in the first gama against WBA. What do u think?
wow..a left-footed attacking midfield with squad number 19..he will be arsenal’s very own messi..haha
Very happy for young Jack, does deserve it, but so does Barazite imo and probably Gibbs too. Randall, Landsbury and Simpson have got to really go for it, it might be a bit heart-breaking for someone like Barazite, but it shows players can make the step up. The problem for Barazite though is: Ade, Van P, Eduardo, Vela, Walcott and Bendtner. Still think he is on a level with the last three though. Lets hope he’s going on loan.
j u are right, someone like Fran Merida who i was hoping will be in the first team must be realy gutted
I had always said wilshere found previous level of competition which he played in quite comfortable thats why wenger dont want to train with reserves anymore. He can learn more from 1st team players, i hope RVP & Cesc take him on their wing because his technique under pressure will just improve to ends.
Well apart from Fran Merida Jamie I doubt many of the wingers in the reserves will become Arsenal regulars. They should try and use it as motivation that they can make it into the squad as well.
This must mean that players like Barazite, Gibbs, Merida and Traore will probably be going on loan.
My guess:-
1. Jack is treated as replacement for Gilberto.
2. They want to reserve the No.13 & No.18 shirt for Xabi Alonso if we do sign him.
The correct decision! Jack has immense quality!
Simpson’s attitude was wrong, he looked good against that Burgenland team, until he missed those chances. After that he went out of the game completely, wrong move. If he had forced himself into it, and got more chances, he would have made Wenger think about him a bit more. If your head goes down and you can get fazed against them, then you sure as hell aren’t ready.
Also with the new 7 SUBs this season is another reason why he was added.
Barazite, Merida, Randall, Lansbury must be finkin 1 fing……….DAMN (in da words of ron simmons) lol
Barazite and Merida should surely be next. I dont like Randall or Lansbury, they’re not better or as good as what we’ve got already and wouldnt do well in the prem.
merida number 29
barazite number 23
Alonso( when he signs) number 18
only spare number ledt is 13 nd dat can be for our new goalie next year
its all 1 big plan lol
I think Barazite is going on loan, otherwise he would have played more than 1 match.. I really want to see more of him.
There might be a possibility of the dutchman playing in amsterdam…
If he doesn’t play against hudersfield then there must be something wrong.
this is excellent news. Jack is the one we want to see and not crocks like rosicky and van persie.
all we need now is alonso and we are complete.
It just speaks volumes for the amount of talent this young lad has for AW to so highly rate him. Indeed it would seem he would be a valuable member of the first team squad with appearances throughout the coming season.
Just a little tought for the other guys in the reserves particularly Simpson and Barazite but i think its curtains for Jay unfortunately and solidifies Barazites loan move for me.
Lets see what the wenger has instored for the other bright reserves who were on the cusp of the first team squad i.e Randall, Lanbury , Merida and Gibbs . For me Merida , Gibbs and Barazite go out to loan.
Once again welcome Jack !
After wenger urged caution last week I thought that he would only get a few carling cup outings as a sub, goes to show that if ur good enough your old enough. Well done Jack
Speak for yourself, I am desparate to see a fully fit Rosicky and Van Persie, no one better really. It will just be nice to see Jack with them. Just read something on Stephen Hughes, wondered what happened to him, kinda sad.
Of course you can always say x player could have done more in a game, but the truth is many of these young reserve players are easily good enough to play for a prem team and some of them for Arsenal. When you look at Eboue and Hoyte playing all the time, it makes you mad to think they are holding out a young player from progressing who has real talent and by rights should be there.
Eboue could be sold to make way for Barazite on the right wing for example.
There’s no point in being gutted for other players. The simple fact of the matter is that Jack has turned it on at the right time & impressed the man that counts. The others may well all be very good players but JW looks truly outstanding. I thought Cesc was a one-off but JW is proving me wrong. I’m extremely pleased to hear that we’ve got him tied up in a pre-contract agreement as with luck & hard work in a few years time, he’ll be a star.
In any case, the others needn’t be put out by this, different players progress at different rates/ages so the fact that they weren’t in the first team squad at the age of 16 doesnt mean that they cant be by 21!
Well done Jack.
Fully deserved.
Well happy for him, he is one hell of a player already. At 16 you could have forgiven him for being in awe when lining up against the likes of Buffon, Chiellini, Nedved, Salgado, Guti, Robinho etc but he just took it in his stride and showed immense maturity. I think he will have a very big impact and i can see a lot of teams finding him a problem this season as he has a lot of strength despite his stature!!
brilliant!!
It is clear as day that he is head and shoulders above the rest of the young players coming through. I am not surprised that he has been given a first team number.
He will probably be a first team regular next season, he is that good.
Can one really see him starting PL games this season
Randy, yes i can.
Why can’t you?
Maybe not against the likes of Man u but later on when others are getting a bit tired or we have CL games and the next one isn’t too big why not start him and give others a rest!
With the new 7 subs rule he will probably make the bench alot this season and Wenger could use him as an impact sub as he is very tricky and creates things for the team.
Even at his age he’s a great option for Wenger to have in the squad.
Very well said!
People have been slating our squad depth but with people like jack there to bring on or replace injured/tired players i don’t see us having too big a problem depth wise!
seems as if i need to take back my comment about over hyping Wilshere yesterday.
if Arsene thinks he’s ready for first team football at 16, then clearly he is every bit as special as claimed.
you know what, even though he is young, he will add balance to the squad as we didn’t have one left footed midfielder before he was added to the squad.
congrats to him and good news. he will be exciting to watch this season.
JAck looks a gr8 player in the making. I just hope he is arsenal through and through not like that david cuntley
Great news! I wish Arsenal would release the whole squad number list though!
He is the dogs bollocks with the effort he put in during all the pre-season games so far. He deserves all the praise he is getting.
Good on him.
You’d have to be blind to not realise that Wilshire has talent in abundance! Surely Fran Merida will get to play at least one pre-season match!? I think he needs a season on loan at a top level club, much like Vela had last season.
Great point Gazzap!
If there is talent in waiting. Make way! Hoyte should be sold, Eboue placed firmly as second right back. There are players beyond Jack Wilshere, who also have a lot of talent.
Damn, Feel Sorry for Harvard (The Next Maldini). Anyway, Congratulations Jack. Do us proud eh :D
“Vela, Walcott and Bendtner. Still think he is on a level with the last three though. Lets hope he’s going on loan.”
You really think Barazite is on level with 3 internationals?
Good news! Seconds after Jack flew past Garcia on the left wing and crossed for Bendtner, I looked across to Wenger and the bench (I was lucky enough to be sitting a few metres away). Arsene wasn’t smiling, he was laughing, he looked like he was loving the youngster’s performance. He’s 16, but he’s got that special something which marks him out as a serious talent, of course expectations will be very high now, but let’s hope he continues to make great strides.
Well done Jack!What a rise,from under 16 captain to number 19 in the first team in just a matter of months,amazing.And he is only 16,cant wait to see the boy when he is 21,5 whole years of english premiership experience and he will soon be taking his bow on the international level.The fact that he is english also shows that wenger does not disregard british players,he studies them and sees if they are worthy,and jack has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is the real deal,top draw.GO JACK!!!
Dont feel too bad for the others! If anything it is another positive sign for them that they can make it. They know what they have to do!!! Jack has just shown how good he is in every game. We cant expect him to do it week in week out in the Prem, but with 7 subs we more than likely to see him given 5-10 minutes against tired teams. He is also lucky coming into a side that has struggled for a left midfielder, so he has had more chances to impress. Simpson, Barazit, Randall et al are always going to stuggle in their respective positions because of the class we have there already.
Did anyone else notice that against Madrid and juve Jack got the biggest cheer, apart from Eduardo! He is already in the hearts and minds of Gooners everywhere! That must have doen his confidence the world of good!
this might be a slap to the face for some highly rated youngster. this is time for the like of gibbs, randall and landsbury to show their character. someone from below jump the que and into the first team earlier than them. can they take this disappoinment? how will they react? is their career heading for downfall or they use this as motivation to move forward? i still think they got enough talent to make it into first team. but it will take 2 3 seasons for sure. i’m not sure they can wait that long but time will tell. barazite, merida and nardtveit will eventually make it, so i’m not concern about them. usually the mentality of local player worries me.
I Know, I was there :). He got a huge cheer and didn’t dissapoint either.
Bit concerned if it is the right time to promote him to the first team, but you never know.
Seedorf: Damn, Feel Sorry for Harvard (The Next Maldini). Anyway, Congratulations Jack. Do us proud eh
——————————————————–
Nordveidt is not the next Maldini, Maldini was giving composed performances @ LB, RB & CB @ a tender age, so please stop the BS. Apart from his distribution from the back, he is still a massive work in progress. So until he shows massive improvement you cannot compare him with a LIVING LEGEND
Glad to see Wilshere added to the first team squad. He deserves it and will add something different to the team. I hope the other young hopefuls take this as motivation and don’t start sulking, though for the majority it will be very hard for them to forge a career at arsenal.
This has surely got to mean the end of Eboue on the right wing.
Biscuit i would hope so but i doubt it as Jack will prob be on the left i guess.
the kid has all what it takes that is why the Professor gave this Chance. for me he will get more confedence from being first team.. Gooooooooooooooood luck Jack. but i would to see the likes of Merida, Prazite and Randal..even they have such that Quality…
Well with Nasri, Walcott, Wilshere and Rosicky (when fit) all being able to play both wings I hope ebouewill only be used as back to Sagna. Theres always hope Clacko
When I heard Jack would be involved with the 1st team this season, I thought it meant he’d be involved in the Carling Cup. But getting a number that he has been given suggests we may see a bit more of him.
With regards to the other players, I don’t think they should be gutted. Next week Arsenal might announce that so and so has been promoted to the 1st team squad.
What this should to is encourage them as its an indication that Wenger is looking closely at the academy nowadays and if you’re good enough you’re old enough.
I hope Gibbs gets a chance if he doesn’t go out on loan, he was also impressive against Juve on Saturday.
I think that Barazite and Randall will go out on loan, Lansbury will spend the season with the reserves as he’s a year tounger then the other youngsters other than Jack. He’ll probably get Carling Cup/FA Cup games again.
Just a thought though guys. Don’t automatically assume that when the youngsters get to 18/19 and aren’t in the 1st team they won’t make it. Man Utd are only just puuting Fraizer Campbell and Johnny Evans in the 1st team squad and they’re both 20.
wow, is he really that good…..
good luck to him anyway, hope he continues his impressive performances in the premier league…
i hear arsenal are close to signing miguel velsco…but is he really a good partner for cesc, can he get round the pitch and put in a good tackle, i have not seen much of him. from what i saw hes like a alonso = good passer of the ball
When you look at a lot of our reserve team/ youths a lot still have quite a bit of time to come to the end of their development. It will be mostly about the person and if they are willing to wait or if a club comes in and they get star struck and want the games straight away. That would be a shame.
I hate man u but have to say that i think Campbell is a very good player. Lucky that he is at a big club that doesn’t actually have many strikers as it will give him a chance, also got to be good for england again.
I tired of hearing on this blog about other reserve players are unlucky. The decision to promote JW is based on Talent/potential & availability on the wings not Age or being a senior player. Remember when Cashley bypass everyone because he was considered good enough.
Man U are still riding on their past achievements with Beckham et al. How many of their youngsters have actually made it. Fletcher is the only one and even he is pretty average. All their claimed youth development involves spending lots of money on nani and anderson.
Frichie, i completely agree with that!!!
You look at Fletcher amd i am sorry but he isn’t the same class as other players around him in their team. Their youth policy is buy young players for shit loads of money and put them in the reserve for a season! Chris Eagles they gave a go to, he has now gone, Rooney they bought at 16 or 17 i can’t remember and nani and anderson are young.
Their youth/reserve is no where near as good as ours!
5+5= 10
1+9= 10
Ive got a feeling that Jack will wear the nr 10 shirt in a couple of years ;)
haha nice thinking rick!
anyone know how tall the guy is? cant be very much over 170cm
Boomer, I do. I really like Barazite, I think he is class and I just wanted him to be given the chance to show that. He was too good for the reserves before Jack even got there. I could be wrong obviously, but I just feel that he would shine on a bigger stage. Lol, Rick is probably right.
Well arsene obviously thinks he has talent otherwise he wouldn’t have put him in the carling cup last yr before he got injured. Since he hasn’t been involved that much this pre-season I would think he’s probably going out on loan.
Everyone one should understand that wenger gives more demand to strikers than wingers. Its easy to get promoted playing any other part of the team but difficult if you are a striker. That is why he still doesn’t see walcot as a striker for the season, but surely in the future. He says strikers need very huge physical presence as they always get bombarded especially in the air. So Barazite still has to get some more experience and physic to strike for us, Simpson inclusive. They are all going out on loan.
so if he plays in the prem will he be the worst payed player ever?? (are scholarships payed about £60 a week or something?)
good luck to him, looks like he will be a great addition
“you cannot compare him with a LIVING LEGEND” – Supergonner.
I didn’t compare, i hyped him. Difference lad. And i didn’t men Abilities, i mean Personality, Maldini has dedicated his life to Milan, and i think Havard would do it for Arsenal judging from his interviews. So YOU stop the bullshit.
Why cant u just admit that you carried away, there nothing wrong with it but trying to twist your previous comments is just daft.
Wilshire is a real prospect for real, I just hope he progresses enough to get game time before coming a regular.
Pity about other young players like Randall, Gibbs and Barazite. i thought Nordveit might be involved too?
Gibbs played well as a LB too.
So, who will play left back if Clichy aint available?
imagine if we were to buy wilshire in a few years time…. If bary,bentley,bent etc go for so much jack would have cost something like £50-75 million !! THATS HOW MUCH BETTER HE IS THAN OTHER ENGLISH PLAYERS !! He will be the proper replacement of our legendary no. 10 ( not willy !!)
i think gallas or traore.
plus fran’s gonna be better than cesc + nacer better than robin !!
Haha, bad luck for that person who commented yesterday that he just got “Wilshere 55” on his home shirt…
I agree 100% with Harry, Top gunn and others about Barazite, got to be a loan. Reserves is a joke for him now. Would be nice for Simpson to go on another loan too, as I want to see them both make it (don’t rate Simpson’s chances too much though, unless someone leaves).
Lmao, yeah, hard luck to that guy. Getting Wilshere 55 was way too presumptuous.
Great! :D
massive fan of wilshere, and i feel so sorry for that guy who got 55 on his back :P, but knowing the kindness andd genourosity of AFC they will refund him i think, like they did with people who got “gallas – 3” on the bk couple years ago.
but anyway im very pleased and this shows how highly wenger rates him as a player, as for barazite send him on loan to salamnca like we did with pedroo!!
havard nordveit will get his chance for sure.. hes class defender but not quite there yet.
“wilshere 19” on the back of my away shirt a good idea people?
let me know (Y)
i havent realy seen jack play but from what i read n hear he is quality. wish hm all the best. Go GUN JACK…
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/08/03/wilsheres-stunning-entrance-embarrasses-real-madrid/#comment-17926
I LOLed quite a bit.
It is all of a sudden looking like the squad is getting deeper and that can only be good. I’m not suprised about Jack Wilshere. He is the new Fabregas! The kind of players we have now in Wilshere, Vela, Nasri and Ramsey will make it difficult for other teams to predict our play. I hope it is true that Arsenal are about to sign Veloso:
phader said this on August 4, 2008 at 2:00 pm
“i hear arsenal are close to signing miguel velsco
All we need is that 22year old machine!
Instead of spending £16- £18m on Alonso, I don’t mind if Wenger spends that money on Veloso. But, its wishful thinking until it is officially announced. From what Wenger has said recently anyway, it is obvious he is in negotiation on a player but an agreement is still not reached. I believe we will hear of a signing before the end of this month.
BTW, many many congratulations to Wilshere. I knew he was a promising player but never thought he would be promoted so rapidly. Wenger must definately have thought very long ans hard about it. He was given three chances and he took them all. He wasn’t fazed at all. That the kind of fresh blood we need and I’m glad he is in the squad. A very happy day for me really.
Clacko the Gooner i think is gonna be a top player within 3 years, but i jus cant see him making much of an impact goals and assist wise.
The Samir Nasri Show here
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQKMHVoXQHw
It was I who got Wilshere 55 on my shirt, bit premature i know!!
I do feel a bit gutted – the girl in the shop said he’d be getting a new number on monday, but i felt i wanted his very first number on my shirt.
I dont want a refund from AFC – wilsh was in my year at the priory school, and i want to support him any way i can.
Anybody ever seen a Fabregas 57 shirt? that would be cool, hopefully in a few years when he is in the first team, i will be able to say that i have his very first original number.
why did people get gallas 3 shirts?
i really pity the fan who is saying he has never seen our new God sent gift not only 4 arsenal fans but 4 england which i really admit lacks flair.surely his composure is far much better than senderos simpson en sorry 2 say even walcott.am very far from london(am in kenya)am sad i cant get his no.19 jersey! wish anybody in london can do that. i passionately love him ooooh! wish i could hug him.barazite i think is going on loan en 4 nordveit let nobody talk ill of him he is truely another maldini.for new d-midfielder either alonso,de la red or inler then we are set.
gallas got given the number 3 shirt from arsenal, after coles departure but a day later wanted bergkamps number 10,
AFC then refunded anyone who got gallas 3 on the back.
and fair play to you “harith” mate :D,
gooner4ever, thanks mate (:
but as wenger would say: “c’est la vie”