Source: Eurosport
Wenger plays down Wilshere buzz
Arsene Wenger admits he does not know just how many games teenager Jack Wilshere will play for Arsenal next season.
The 17-year-old produced a stand-out display in the Emirates Cup, netting the opening goal inside two minutes of a 3-0 victory over Scottish champions Rangers as the Gunners won the pre-season tournament in style.
With national team manager Fabio Capello in the stands and English football about to embark on a campaign which will hopefully end at the 2010 World Cup finals, attention is bound to be extra focused on the potential of any home-grown talent.
But Wenger urged on the side of caution to allow the Hertfordshire-born midfielder the required time to develop.
"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. "If I had taken him out of the youth team now, you would not have seen what we did here, 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. 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 he is consistent. Let's not make stars in just two games. You have to respect the development of the players."
