Arsenal
Born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, Wilshere joined the Arsenal Academy in October 2001 at the age of nine, after spending two months with Luton Town soccer school.[3] He rose through the ranks, and at the age of 15 was named the captain of the Under-16s; he also made a few appearances for the Under-18s. In the summer of 2007 Wilshere featured in the Champions Youth Cup and upon his return to England, Arsenal Academy coach Steve Bould gave him a start for the Under-18s first game against the Chelsea Under-18 team.[4] He scored his first goal against Aston Villa Under-18s in a 4–1 win.[5] He then scored a hat-trick against Watford Under-18s, helping his side to an Academy Group A title.[6]
In February 2008, he made his debut for Arsenal Reserves against Reading, and scored Arsenal’s only goal of the match even though they went on to lose the match to a Simon Church goal.[7] He played in the Under-16s victory in the Atalanta Cup, being named as player of the tournament.[8] He played an important role in Arsenal’s 2009 FA Youth Cup win, scoring goals in the semi final[9] and producing a man-of-the-match display in the first leg of the final against Liverpool, assisting 2 goals and scoring himself.[10]
In July 2008, Wilshere was selected in the first team for the pre-season friendlies. He made his first team debut against Barnet as a half-time substitute for Henri Lansbury, setting up a goal for Jay Simpson.[11] Wilshere scored his first two goals for Arsenal in a 10–2 win against a Burgenland XI, and again two days later in a friendly against Stuttgart.
Wilshere warming up before a game against West Bromwich Albion
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger gave Wilshere a place in Arsenal’s first team squad for the 2008–09 season,[12] and he was given the number 19 shirt. He made his competitive debut in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in September 2008, as an 84th-minute substitute for Robin van Persie.[13] At the age of 16 years and 256 days, he was Arsenal’s youngest-ever league débutant, a record previously held by Cesc Fàbregas.[14] Ten days later, on 23 September, Wilshere scored his first Arsenal goal in a 6–0 victory against Sheffield United in the Football League Cup.[15]
On 25 November 2008, Wilshere came on as a substitute in a UEFA Champions League match against Dynamo Kyiv, becoming the fifth sixteen-year-old to ever play in the Champions League.[16] In January 2009 Wilshere signed his first professional contract,[17] extending it in July the same year.[18]
In the preparation for the 2009–10 season, Wilshere scored twice and was twice awarded Man of the Match as Arsenal regained the friendly tournament, the Emirates Cup.[19] On 22 September 2009, he started for Arsenal in their 2–0 Football League Cup win over West Bromwich Albion F.C.. In the 37th minute of the match, he was involved in a controversial incident with Jerome Thomas as Thomas pushed Wilshere’s face and was shown a red card.[20] After the event, West Brom’s manager, Roberto Di Matteo, accused Wilshere of insulting Thomas and overreacting to the push.[21]
