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Wenger picks out Wilshire as one to watch as City Reserves play host to his Class of ’08

18th November 2008 By Latest News Leave a Comment

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The Canary faithful will tonight gain a fascinating insight into how the other half intend to live over the next ten years as Arsene Wenger's Class of 2008 head for Carrow Road.

In theory tonight's Reserve team 'friendly' is against Arsenal's 'second string'; in reality, the Premiership giants are likely to field a teenage nursery side with few, if any, boasting a Premiership appearance.

But given the manner in which many of their number are carving their way to a Carling Cup final appearance this season, if tonight's visitors are not yet household names it may only be a season or two before they are as Wenger keeps his extraordinary production line rolling.

For City reserve boss Paul Stephenson this evening's clash offers him the chance to see how the likes of the newly-signed Tom Adeyemi measures up against his Arsenal peers; how the much-admired Jed Steer holds himself in such company – as well as giving the likes of Stuart Nelson and the forgotten man, Simon Lappin, a rare competitive run-out.

“It'll provide a fantastic challenge for our young players,” said the City reserve chief, as he looked to clash swords with the very best that the Gunners can muster from their own, rightly-famed Academy set-up.

“We're hoping that they'll send as strong a side as possible to make it even harder,” added Stephenson, clearly one for a challenge.

After all, Wenger's Carling Cup babes have already brushed Premiership Wigan aside with a big, dollop of disdain as the passed and moved their way to that 3-0 success.

At the heart of that success lay a 16-year-old who Wenger has already tipped for stardom in South Africa in the 2010 World Cup – Jack Wilshire.

“You can never rule out the possibility,” Wenger speaking ahead of last weekend's shock 2-0 home defeat by Aston Villa, when one or two accused the Gunners' boss of asking too many kids to do too many men's jobs.

That whilst the odd Walcott here and the odd Fabregas there might work, you never win anything with kids. Not when one or two of your Premiership rivals are prepared to go all direct and dirty on you – as Stoke City did a week or so before.

It is why Wilshire will be used sparingly at Premiership level; why nights like tonight may be his perfect stage as the youngster likened most to the imperious Cesc Fabregas continues his footballing education.

Wenger clearly believes that the boy is destined for the stars – and sooner rather than later. In an England World Cup shirt by 2010 is, insists Wenger, a real possibility. For Master Adeyemi it could be the biggest test yet of his own, fledgling football career if Wilshire graces Carrow Road this evening.

“We have to assess that situation in two years. I don't see why not, but then the pressure [starts] there straight away. So let him develop and play and when he is ready, he will play.”

The fact that Wilshire is naturally left-footed is just another string to his bow as Wenger looks to better Walcott's limited impact on England's 2006 tournament.

“In 2010 he [Wilshire] will be 18. Theo was 17 and had never played a single Premier League game and had not grown like Wilshere has now. Wilshere will come in and out of the [Arsenal] team [from now on]; he'll play in the Champions League and the championship.”

Two-goal Carling Cup hero Jay Simpson could be another to watch after the 19-year-old confirmed just why he was League One Player of the Year last season courtesy of his loan spell at Millwall.

And then there is a certain Fran Merida – a player Wenger himself described as “an absolutely amazing player” – high praise indeed given the company he keeps.

Named in a 'Top Ten stars of the future' list, the Gunners were eventually forced to pay Barcelona ?2.1 million for his services after Wenger whipped him out of the Spanish giants' own youth academy. That tells its own story – that Arsenal's reputation is such that even the likes of a Barcelona have to watch their brightest and best hop on the first plane to London.

What chance a Steer ever turning Mr Wenger down? Particularly now that – reportedly – Chelsea's interest in the England Under-16 keeper has waned for credit crunch reasons.

The fact that last season's loan-signing Kieran Gibbs is also due to back at Carrow Road merely adds to the interest as Stephenson prepares to play host for this evening's show-piece occasion. And having watched that 3-0 dismissal of Steve Bruce's Wigan, the Canary reserve boss knows exactly the test that awaits.

“These lads have a God-given talent to look after the ball and a lovely feel on the ball,” Stephenson told the club's official site, as he watched genuine athleticism be matched by pure technique. That was the big claim for Adeyemi – that he had that athletic string to his bow.

“If any of our players our aspiring to play at that level, they have to have the whole package,” he added. “It's going to be a great challenge – and a great learning curve.”


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