Jack Wilshere: 'Liam Brady is my role model'
Published: 5 November, 2010
by STEVE BARNETT
Arsenal legend guides young Wilshere
YOUNG playmaker Jack Wilshere has revealed the person he looks up to most at Arsenal – and it isn’t manager Arsene Wenger or captain Cesc Fabregas.
Instead the highly rated 18-year-old picked club legend Liam Brady, a fitting choice considering Wilshere has often been likened to the Gunners’ hero.
Brady lit up the Arsenal midfield in the late 1970s and helped Terry Neill’s side win three consecutive FA Cup finals from 1978 to 1980.
Now Wilshere is following in his footsteps after coming through the club’s youth ranks.
Wilshere, who signed a new long-term contract on Monday, has already been given some words of wisdom from the Irishman, who is still very much involved in the game as Arsenal’s head of youth development.
At a Q&A session for supporters at the Emirates on Saturday, he said: “Liam Brady is my role model. He works with the youth players now and he has always been there in my career. He has helped me a lot and people have said I am a similar player to him.”
Wilshere added: “I think at the minute Cesc is the best midfielder in the Premier League, but in the past there have been players like Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira – all complete midfielders.” he said. “I was on the books when Patrick was still here and I think the way he tackled and intercepted play is something I would add to my game. Cesc talks to me and tells me what I need to do. He was 16 when he burst onto the scene so you just need to talk to the senior players like him and they help you through.”
Wilshere is being tipped to start England’s forthcoming friendly with France at Wembley.
Although well on his way to a glittering career, he knows he has room for improvement. “The strongest part of my game at the moment is my passing - which is good as that's the way Arsenal play. My weakest is probably my right foot, but I’m working on that,” he said.