01 July 2023 , 06:00
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He was a precocious talent whose career arguably finished unfulfilled.
Jack Wilshere was tipped for big things when he first broke into the Arsenal team under Arsene Wenger at the tender of age 16. It would be 10 years before he would leave the Emirates having contributed to two FA Cup wins and played 34 times for England, but he was restricted to just 197 games for the Gunners in that decade due to a string of injuries.
After two loan spells and then short stints at West Ham and Bournemouth, Wilshere retired from playing football last year, despite being just 30. But not before he'd named his five favourite teammates from a career that was at times fantastic, but just as often frustrating.
And it wasn't just Arsenal icons on his list. During an interview with talkSPORT, he included Manchester United and Liverpool icons amid his elite list.
Cesc Fabregas
The Spanish playmaker spent eight seasons at Arsenal, with the final three of those coinciding with Wilshere's initial breakthrough. But the mark he made on the Stevenage born star was clearly a long lasting one.
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“My first one was easy," he declared. "Before I came into the team, when I went into the dressing room he was brilliant for me. He was the one who all the academy boys looked at.
Jack Wilshere and Cesc Fabregas of Arsenal during a Champions League matchHAVE YOUR SAY! Did Jack Wilshere fulfil his potential? Comment below.
"When I went into the dressing room, he was captain and put his arm around me and was brilliant. Eventually I got into the team and played next to him. I saw him control games, create 10, 12 clear goalscoring opportunities per game. For someone who wasn’t quick or strong, he just played it with his mind. It was unbelievable to watch.”
Wayne Rooney
Rivals at club level, but partners in crime with England, Wilshere ended his career in awe of the man for who he played alongside at the 2014 World Cup. And there was no shortage of irony, having idolised the Man United star when growing up.
"He had everything,” Wilshere said. “I had a Rooney shirt and I got into the England team and he was one of the lads. Not many players can go from a No 9 who can run in behind to someone who plays defensive midfield."
Santi Cazorla
Wilshere's two FA Cup triumphs were shared with the Spaniard, a £10 million signing from Malaga. And yet, first impressions proved a little misleading.
Santi Cazorla and Wilshere (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)“[Cazorla] turned up and was this short, funny guy," said Wilshere. "He didn’t really care. Ate what he wanted. Did what he wanted. When he went on the pitch, it was like a little kid, smiling. We used to take set pieces and the gaffer would say ‘no, no in swinger and he would just take it with his left’. He was special."
Thomas Rosicky
Like Wilshere, the Czech star spent a decade in north London, from 2006-20016.
And the pair can both reflect on the fitness problems that plagued their time, and first team appearances, under Wenger. But Wilshere argued his former teammate would constantly bounce back from lay-offs: "It was tough for [Rosicky] because he kept getting injured but when he came back it was like he hadn’t been anywhere."
Steven Gerrard
The Liverpool legend wasn't in his prime when he played alongside at Wilshere at international level, but clearly his class was still apparent.
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Steven Gerrard replaces Wilshere at the 2014 World Cup (Ian Walton)"When I played with [Gerrard], he’d dropped off a bit. He wasn’t the box-to-box guy I saw videos of," recalled Wilshere. “When I played with him he was a No 4. I’ve never seen someone consistently ping the ball without shanking it or making a mess of it.”