At the age of 16 years and 256 days, Wilshere was Arsenal’s youngest ever league débutant. With competition for places hot at the Emirates Stadium, Wilshere only appeared in fits and starts for the Gunners, despite scoring his first goal for the club 10 days later against Sheffield united in the League Cup.
In the 2009-10 season the Stevenage-born attacking midfielder joined Bolton on loan for the second half of the campaign and impressed manager Owen Coyle, prompting the Scot to tell Press Association: "For the country as a whole that is the type you want, English players who have composure on the ball.”
Wilshere has it in droves, and possesses something of the Joe Cole in him with that ability to glide past opposition players.
