LONDON: Arsenal and England say they are ready to build their teams around Jack Wilshere, and the gifted teenage midfielder showed just why with a stunning individual display against Barcelona.
Up against the formidable midfield trio of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets – the heartbeat of Spain’s 2010 World Cup-winning side – Wilshere demonstrated he has the character to match his undoubted talent by leading Arsenal’s fightback in their 2-1 victory in the first leg of the Champions League last 16.
“He was outstanding,” Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. “He wasn’t fazed by the occasion. In difficult periods when we were under pressure, he wanted the ball and kept the ball. He played really well.”
Wilshere is enjoying a sensational breakthrough season at the north London club, marking it with his first start for England in last Wednesday’s 2-1 win over Denmark in Copenhagen.
Playing firstly as a holding midfielder before moving further upfield in the second half at the Parken Stadium, he took to international football with consummate ease. He had no problem transferring that form to the Emirates Stadium a week on.
“It’s been a great couple of weeks – the best of my life,” Wilshere said after his coming-of-age display against the Spanish champions.
Wilshere is a rarity in English football in that he is a midfielder who looks comfortable on the ball, whenever it is given to him. The recent failure of England’s national team can be seen as stemming from their inability to keep possession against the major sides in big tournaments, but that could change with Wilshere as the commander in the engine room.
He is even outshining Cesc Fabregas, for so long Arsenal’s totem in midfield, at the moment.
Wilshere, who spent half of last season on loan at Premier League team Bolton in a bid to pick up some valuable topflight experience, was part of an Arsenal midfield that was blown away against Barcelona.
“There was a spell in the first half where for about 20 minutes we didn’t touch the ball. But we knew they were going to do that,” he said.
“I watched these (Barcelona) players in the World Cup and they were the best team there, so I knew a bit about them before the game. But once you get into a game, you get used to them,” Wilshere said.
“We had to go up a level in the second half and we passed it around better. We had to carry on playing the Arsenal way and we did that.”
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