Jack Wilshere seemingly has a wise head on young shoulders. For the Arsenal star has revealed he refuses to listen to his critics and instead concentrates on his football.
Gunners midfielder Wilshere goes into the international break reflecting on his breakthrough at the Emirates five years ago and his frustrating battle with injury.
And in so doing he shows a remarkable maturity given that he is still just 21.
Wilshere came on as a substitute as Arsenal lost 1-0 at Manchester United but Arsene Wenger’s side are still to top of the Premier League, sitting two points clear of second-place Liverpool.
Speaking after the defeat at Old Trafford, he said: “People are always going to criticise you and judge your performances all the time. They are paid to do that, so you have to concentrate on your own game.”
And he has reminded his critics that he is still young. He added: “Yes, I do think people forget my age. Not just because I’ve been around for a long time, but people hear I’ve got two kids and it’s not often you hear about a 21-year-old with two kids.
“I’ve been in the first team since I was 16 so that’s five years and that’s quite a long time in football terms. I made my debut when I was 16 and the aim was to play for England and it came pretty quickly –when I was 18. Then the main thing after that was to keep my place in the Arsenal team week in, week out and I did during that season.
“I then had a frustrating year with injury and it’s tough when you’re out injured, you’ve got to come back. People think that when you’re out injured you don’t do a lot of work but you do, trust me.
“It’s tough but last season I got back into the team, got fit again and had 30-odd games which was nice, and this year I’ve stayed fit so far and that’s the aim for the rest of season.
“I play week in, week out against 31 and 32-year-olds so I think you just have to take that.”
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