Wenger urges Wilshere patience

Gunners boss plays down England talk

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 2nd August 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Wenger urges Wilshere patience

Wilshere: Tipped for big future

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Arsene Wenger has moved to ease the excitement surrounding Arsenal youngster Jack Wilshere.

The 17-year-old midfielder was named man of the match for both the Gunners' Emirates Cup games this weekend, scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Rangers in Sunday's final.

England boss Fabio Capello was amongst those at the Emirates Stadium that saw Wilshere stand out in a stylish all-round display by Arsenal.

Wilshere is already an England youth international and there is talk of him breaking into the senior squad in time for next year's World Cup, like Michael Owen in 1998 and fellow Gunner Theo Walcott in 2006.

Wenger has fast-tracked Wilshere, making him Arsenal's youngest-ever player last September, but has pleaded for patience from those already predicting an England call-up for the promising teenager.

"I sped him up by putting him in the dressing room and giving him a chance to practice every day with the first team," said Wenger.

Special treatment

"If I had taken him out of the youth team now, you would not have seen what we did today, that means he has benefited a lot from special treatment and an acceleration of his education.

"I do not know how much he will play (this season). It is very difficult to predict.

"The only problem in England, knowing the impatience of English people, is that it will be difficult to keep the right pace in his progress.

"Let's be calm and quiet. There is still a year to go to the World Cup, and let's see how he improves, how consistent he is.

"Let's not make stars in just two games. You have to respect the development of the players."

Fit-again striker Eduardo scored Arsenal's other goal while Tomas Rosicky continued his return to fitness with a late substitute appearance.

Cesc Fabregas, Andrey Arshavin and young Spanish midfielder Fran Merida also played their part in some classy first-half football by the Gunners.

Cohesion

"I believe overall we played a good game, with good cohesion and good movement, and of course Jack was on the end of it twice, but I think it was a good team performance," Wenger told Sky Sports News.

"It shows that we have good players. If you look at the players that did not play in the two games, I believe that we have a very good squad."

Wenger has not ruled out any further additions this summer to follow the signing of Thomas Vermaelen and confirmed that a return for former captain Patrick Vieira "is a possibility I have to think about".

"It's more important that now we focus on our targets and the strengths we have rather than expecting a miracle from outside," he added.

"I will now think about the whole squad. Two weeks ago, I did not know if we would have Eduardo or not, or Rosicky. They both look to be completely back, so that makes the squad quite big."