Soccerstarz - Jack Wilshere Figurine (Arsenal)

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Skilful, strong, inventive and versatile, Jack Andrew Garry Wilshere isone of the most exciting young talents in the English game.

He joined Arsenal in 2001 as a nine-year-old and has enjoyed a meteoricrise ever since. By 16 he had made his Reserve team debut and he becameArsenal's youngest ever League player when he came on at Blackburn inSeptember 2008 aged 16 years and 256 days.

Jack gained experience on loan at Bolton in 2009/10 and took thePremier League by storm last season, making more appearances than anyother Arsenal player as he cemented his place in midfield.

Jack is not only established with his club - he's now a mainstay of theEngland side too. Both teams will be looking to the youngster forinspiration for many years to come.

Jack was under the age of 21 on January 1, 2011 and therefore it wasnot necessary to name him in Arsenal's official 2011/12 Premier Leaguesquad. 2007/08 After nine years of grafting his way through the Club'syouth ranks, Jack made his Reserve-team debut in February 2008. Hemarked the occasion with a goal, helping the Gunners to a 1-1 draw awayat Reading.

"My Mum and Dad came down with some members of my family which wasspecial," he said after the match. "It was quite a big crowd, probablythe biggest one I have played in front of, which gave me a bit more ofa buzz."

He managed 13 goals in 19 Academy League outings for the Under-18s.

2008/09: Jack made such a big impression during pre-season that he wasnamed in Arsenal's first-team squad at the start of the 2008/09campaign. In September that year, he made Arsenal history.

He became the youngest player to represent the Gunners in Leaguefootball when he came off the bench against Blackburn, breaking CescFabregas' record. The midfielder was 16 years 256 days when he replacedRobin van Persie in the 81st minute at Ewood Park.

But Jack's history-making didn't stop there - two months later hebecame the youngest Arsenal player to represent the Club in Europeancompetition when he came on as a second-half substitute against DynamoKyiv on November 25. He was 16 years and 329 days old.

In January 2009, just after his 17th birthday, Jack made history yetagain. This time he broke the record for the youngest ever player torepresent Arsenal in the FA Cup. He celebrated by signing professionalterms with the Club after the game.

His season ended with Double success as he helped the Gunners'Under-18s to win the Academy League and FA Youth Cup.

2009/10: Jack's football education took a huge leap forward in 2009/10and, although he was yet to graduate into an Arsenal first-teamregular, this talented student passed every exam with flying colours.

He was the talk of the nation in pre-season after two goals and twoman-of-the-match displays won Arsenal the Emirates Cup. An EnglandUnder-21 call-up followed - remember, Jack was only 17 at the time -and he looked perfectly at home among more experienced internationaltalent in a 0-0 draw with Holland.

Some thought he might be thrown in at the deep end when the PremierLeague season got underway but Arsene Wenger had other ideas. He usedJack sparingly as a late substitute at Standard Liege and gave him afull 90 minutes in the Carling Cup. 'Improvement' was the watchword asfar as the manager was concerned - and Jack did improve.

He showed glimpses of his huge potential in seven first-teamappearances and then joined Bolton on loan in January. According toWenger, the Reebok Stadium would serve as Jack's 'finishing school' - aplace to add steel to the technique and skill nurtured in North London.

Thirteen appearances and one goal later - scored in a 2-1 win at WestHam - Jack now looks ready for regular top-flight football. Whetherthat comes at Emirates Stadium or via another loan spell remains to beSeen.