Wilshere next Messi?

In last nights England v Brazil friendly many English fans were excited at getting their first look at a young, talented and perhaps future worlds best player. Instead it was another 21 year old instead that took centre stage and showed the world his great potential. Jack Wilshere has fought his way back through some horrific injuries over the last year or so but finally looks like he is back to his best or even better.

In last nights game everything good that England created came through Wilshere in the centre midfield. He honourably said after the game it was great to have Gerrard alongside him to keep him going in the second half and to be at his assistance. Yet it appeared it was Wilshere dishing out the instructions and being the man at the centre of the controls. He was the one with the driving runs through midfield and he was the one who rolled Walcott in or gave Welbeck a ball to run on to. These are Wilshere's strengths no other England or Arsenal player looks as comfortable in possession or can make such a range of passes. Many English players can look comfortable in possession but very few do when going forward. He can make forward threatening passes and his driving runs from midfield normally involve taking on a player or two to put his team in a more dangerous position.

In this blog I'm going to refer to Wilshere and his position in the England team but what I mention is defiantly applicable to Arsenal. Wilshere is like no other centre midfielder we have had, he looks to move the game on at a faster pace, has a greater awareness for what is about to happen and has the skills to do something about this. England also have to play a system around Wilshere there is no use playing a target man up front who does not run between defenders, or wingers/ full backs who are not prepared to go forward. He is also better suited to a 3 man midfield, having players around him helps with maintaing possession and Wilshere is only going to be dangerous if he has the ball.

The most exiting thing about Wilshere is he stills has bags of potential to fulfil. He is only 21 and still on the comeback from a string of injuries. He needs to add a few things to his game such as his finishing, he his not the most natural in front of goal and how special would he be if he could add goals to the end of those driving runs were he has beaten multiple players. I also believe he needs to add that killer instinct in the final third, for all the hard work he does he needs to just to be that person that adds the final pass or cross to claim the assist.

His character is not a concern from what I have read and listened to, he is willing to work hard, grounded and has a good network of people around him. Having all these should allow him to develop into an absolute great player.

If he was to go half way to adding those missing components to his game then we can start making that comparison I mentioned in the headline. I thought it would be interesting to consider this comparison though as when he skipped past players yesterday it was very Messi esc.