Jack Wilshere. A class apart

Different gravy

I found it utterly absurd last night that some of the Twitter crowd were rounding against Jack Wilshere. This was inside the first 10 minutes where many probably thought, rather incorrectly, that Brazil would steam roller England into the ground. This would have given the 'English players are over-rated brigade' plenty more ammunition to cut down to size their heroes on a Saturday. But it was Wilshere that was getting more flak than I liked.

There are two things to consider before I go any further.

One - I am not English. I have no care about what England achieve and think that their players over the years, certainly technically at international level, are not up to the level of other teams' best players. They play in a league that demands physical robustness and churn out spectacular match after spectacular match week in week out, in front of the fans that are baying for blood i.e. want a game that ends 5-5 and where every player is kicked and every player crawls off the pitch. To hell with tactics!

Two - I am not an Arsenal fan.

But even as a staunch neutral when judging the merits of Jack Wilshere, one cannot be blind to the fact that he is, in short, England's most technically gifted player for generations. Not only that, he has that mental toughness puts in a hard challenge and works to a team template. He is near enough the complete modern day world class European midfielder.

So why the hatred last night? I can only summise that these are haters that will hate regardless. Wilshere has a stunning combination of attributes that I believe will surpass the three great modern midfielders produced by England; Paul Scholes, Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard.

I dislike Scholes with a passion, but it is undeniable that he has been a modern great at United. Fat Lampard has been the driving force for years at Chelsea. His scoring rate and work ethic has been quite frankly sublime. And Steven Gerrard has been my icon since childhood. Captain fantastic, in some rubbish football teams, churning out performances week in week out literally dragging an entire Liverpool team up by the scruff of the neck virtually all his career. Only once has he played in a team that is worthy of him, when the Reds had players like Alonso and Torres to work with.

But Jack Wilshere is a different player entirely which makes him much more exciting. The others are functionally brilliant for the EPL and have moulded themselves to that league. They embody what the Premier League is all about. Wilshere is just such a refined footballer. He is typically continental. Comfortable on the ball, tactically astute, totally at ease with drawing players onto him to create space for others. At to this confidence and technical excellence, he is superbly creative as tough as nails and reads the game exceptionally. England should be so excited that they have a talent that embodies the very best parts of the great European midfielders over the years.

If Wilshere stays injury free, continues to express himself (which say what you like about Wenger, he is the perfect coach for a Wilshere type of player) then I have no doubt that he will be the leading light for England come the next 10 years or so. Jack Wilshere not only didn't look out of place last night he shone amongst the worlds best.