Jack Wilshere Biography

Name :
Jack Wilshere

Born :
January 01, 1992

Birth place :
Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Height :
1.72m

Weight :
68 kg

Position :
Midfielder

Squad Number :
19

Previous Club(s) :
Bolton (loan)

Joined Arsenal :
October 01, 2001

2007/08
After nine years of grafting his way through the Club's youth ranks, Jack made his Reserve-team debut in February 2008. He marked the occasion with a goal, helping the Gunners to a 1-1 draw away at Reading.

"My Mum and Dad came down with some members of my family which was special," he said after the match. "It was quite a big crowd, probably the biggest one I have played in front of, which gave me a bit more of a buzz."

He managed 13 goals in 19 Academy League outings for the Under-18s.

2008/09
Jack made such a big impression during pre-season that he was named in Arsenal's first-team squad at the start of the 2008/09 campaign. In September that year, he made Arsenal history.

He became the youngest player to represent the Gunners in League football when he came off the bench against Blackburn, breaking Cesc Fabregas' record. The midfielder was 16 years 256 days when he replaced Robin van Persie in the 81st minute at Ewood Park.

But Jack's history-making didn't stop there - two months later he became the youngest Arsenal player to represent the Club in European competition when he came on as a second-half substitute against Dynamo Kyiv on November 25. He was 16 years and 329 days old.

In January 2009, just after his 17th birthday, Jack made history yet again. This time he broke the record for the youngest ever player to represent Arsenal in the FA Cup. He celebrated by signing professional terms with the Club after the game.

His season ended with Double success as he helped the Gunners' Under-18s to win the Academy League and FA Youth Cup.

2009/10
Jack's football education took a huge leap forward in 2009/10 and, although he was yet to graduate into an Arsenal first-team regular, this talented student passed every exam with flying colours.

He was the talk of the nation in pre-season after two goals and two man-of-the-match displays won Arsenal the Emirates Cup. An England Under-21 call-up followed - remember, Jack was only 17 at the time - and he looked perfectly at home among more experienced international talent in a 0-0 draw with Holland.

Some thought he might be thrown in at the deep end when the Premier League season got underway but Arsène Wenger had other ideas. He used Jack sparingly as a late substitute at Standard Liege and gave him a full 90 minutes in the Carling Cup. 'Improvement' was the watchword as far as the manager was concerned - and Jack did improve.

He showed glimpses of his huge potential in seven first-team appearances and then joined Bolton on loan in January. According to Wenger, the Reebok Stadium would serve as Jack's 'finishing school' - a place to add steel to the technique and skill nurtured in North London.

Thirteen appearances and one goal later - scored in a 2-1 win at West Ham - Jack now looks ready for regular top-flight football. Whether that comes at Emirates Stadium or via another loan spell remains to be seen.