The Arsenal midfielder was used in an unusual role by the England manager Roy Hodgson this week, as the new Arsenal striker Danny Welbeck grabbed the headlines by scoring both goals against Switzerland to give the three lions an excellent away victory in their first Euro 2016 qualifying game.
Wilshere was used at the base of a diamond with Fabian Delph on the left, Jordan Henderson on the right and Raheem Sterling at the point. And although he initially struggled to find the space he needed to really affect the game as the England boss hoped, he did grow into the role and received a fair bit of praise. Even his recent critic Jamie Redknapp agreed that Jack could make that role his own.
The player himself also spoke about it, as reported by the Daily Mail, and although he realises that he has quite a bit to learn in the role, he did enjoy and plans to study some of the best players in that position and see how the likes of the great Andrea Pirlo do so well there.
Jack said, “I spoke with the manager and Gary Neville in the week and they told me they wanted me to play that role and I quite enjoyed it.
“It was my first time ever playing there, so over the next month or so I am going to look at a few videos of the game and of players who play in that position regularly – Pirlo, Mascherano and players like that and I’ll get better.
“I felt it went well tonight but next time we meet up I feel it can only go better.”
If that is the role he is set to play for England, I would not be surprised if Arsene Wenger tries him out there for Arsenal as well, especially as the Frenchman seems to have something against a traditional defensive midfielder. But in the fast paced and frantic Premier League, can Wilshere really become Arsenal’s own Pirlo?