Arsene Wenger: 'Jack Wilshere has lots of potential but don't put pressure on him to be a superstar'

The Swansea City manager Michael Laudrup warned tonight that Jack Wilshere would have to play at the top for “a few seasons” before he could truly be regarded as one of the world’s great players, after the 21-year-old’s match-winning performance in the FA Cup third round replay.

It was Wilshere who scored the tie's only goal four minutes from time, prompting Arsène Wenger to describe him as "the complete midfielder" and suggest that the Englishman's best role could be as a No 10 – the position he played tonight.

Laudrup said that Wilshere would flourish without so much pressure on his shoulders. "There's always pressure on players at this level. To be a world-class player you need a few seasons at the top level. Forty or 50 games is not enough. Maybe he can become it, but if we put a 21-year-old up there already, where do we put Lionel Messi?"

He added: "I think he has a lot of potential but I don't think we should push young players too much. People are too fast with the big words. We have to let them grow. Don't put that pressure on him to be a superstar."

Wenger described Wilshere's performance as "outstanding". He said: "I think he is a complete midfielder. He can defend and attack. He is a guy who can dribble and give a final ball so the closer he is to the goal the better it is from there.

"Yes, he has quality and enthusiasm and a love for the game. That is the most important for me."

The Arsenal manager said that the club hoped to tie up a new contract with Theo Walcott "very soon".

He added: "For us it was more at stake than just the FA Cup, it was to win straight away having lost such a big game like Sunday [against Manchester City]. It was important to win straight away. It was as well important to make sure we can win more than one competition. It is one of the reasons I played a stronger side than I have in previous years in the FA Cup."

New day (slowly) rising – As Brasileirão gets underway, Brazilian football stumbles, rather than leaps into the future

The average Serie A crowd last year was 13,000 - comparable to Australia’s A-League.

by James Young

24 May 2013 04:31 PM

iBet: Mercedes and Hamilton to roar in Monaco

Monaco is a street circuit where driver ability is more important than anywhere else and if we take ...

by Gareth Purnell

24 May 2013 02:00 AM

On The Road at the Giro d’Italia: It sounds sadistic, but the team live for the mountain stages

Three weeks ago as I drove off the Eurostar, I remember thinking what a very long time it was until ...

by Martin Ayres

23 May 2013 05:29 PM

Most Viewed
Most Shared
Most Commented

Get your summer started with British Military Fitness

BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes

Visit York Nook Get reading

Prizes & offers Business videos

Visit York

Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world

Military Fitness Nook Get reading

Prizes & offers Business videos

Making reading fun for kids

Nook is donating eReaders to volunteers at high-need schools and participating in exclusive events throughout the campaign.

Military Fitness Visit York Get reading

Prizes & offers Business videos

Introducing the 'Get Reading' campaign

Get the latest on The Evening Standard's campaign to get London's children reading.

Military Fitness Visit York Nook

Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

Military Fitness Visit York Nook

Get reading Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

Military Fitness Visit York Nook

Get reading Prizes & offers

Johnny Marr talks relationships and reunions

He's worked with Modest Mouse, the Pet Shop Boys and Beck, to name a few, and recently released his first solo album. So why, wonders Johnny Marr, do people still hark on about The Smiths?

In pictures: After the flood

From Haiti to Britain, one man has captured the devastation of our increasingly deluged lands

Death becomes her: Meet the very modern mortician who champions 'cool' funerals

Death becomes her: A very modern mortician

Ever considered baking a loved one's remains into a cake or putting their ashes in fireworks? If so, talk to Caitlin Doughty, champion of the alternative death industry.