Number 10 for Arsenal at this point?  Nada.  More likely that Wilshere is number 10 in the Premiership...

No, just kidding.  Still and all, even where he is now, of course Fabregas, Nasri, and van Persie are better.  At the moment, for the Barca game I'll take Arshavin, the unsung-MVP Alex Song, and I might still take Wolcott as more important for that game.  Wolcott provides the all-important spacing to the pitch with his pace.

Clichy and Sagna, you could argue about.

I realize what English fans think of Arshavin, and that Wenger won't even start Arshavin v. Barca, if Wolcott is fit. 

But you are talking about Russia's best player since how many years ago?  Ever?, and a man who was voted top-15 in the world by 4-4-2 just last year.  For me, a 19-year-old has a ways to go, before he's assumed to slot above a player of Arshavin's magnitude.

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You can argue these points .... Song's game is off a bit this term, Clichy is not what he once was ... we heard some announcer refer to Wilshere as "Veira, Makelele (and some other HOF'er) all rolled into one."

Very possible that Yankee soccer fan Dr. D still doesn't perceive all of Wilshere's greatness.  But for me, Wilshere is not yet stringing together the creative accents that mark the games of players at Fabregas' or Xavi's level.  Those world greats are creating chances two, three, four times a game.  Has Wilshere even scored his first goal yet?

That's hardly a knock.  Wilshere looks awesome.  But at the level of a Veira or Fabregas now?  Hmmmmm indeed...

I've got a question for you Brits.  If Jack Wilshere is a top-100-world player at 19, what's he going to be at 24?

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Bottom line:

Jack Wilshere's meteoric rise is one of the things (Nasri, van Persie's sparkle dust, Wolcott's pace replacing Arshavin's hesitancy, Szczesny's authority coming off the back line) that has EPL rivals trembling at what the future holds at the Emirates.  Capello's condescending view of Wilshere as a holding mid is typical of Capella's blindness.  Get a new manager in there already....

Wup, we note that even Capello had admitted Wilshere's greatness as a non-attacking player.  "Next Claude Makelele" admits Capello...

I would argue that even the Makelele template is selling Wilshere a bit short, as to his age-23 season... as Fabio seems to acknowledge, Wilshere's attacking skills are going to be a big part of his game...

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Wilshere's rawhide-tough game management is precisely the element that has been missing in the World Cup for England, if you ask me.  England's glamor names have not been attended by players to do the dirty work off the ball, and Arsenal's own Wolcott and Wilshere are the two players to give England that.

Too bad Capello seems transfixed by salary and reputation...

Cheerio,

Dr D