England boss Roy Hodgson paid tribute to Arsenal star Jack Wilshere's role in last night's win over San Marino 

Published: 10 October, 2014
by PAUL COWLING at Wembley Stadium

European Championship qualifier: Group E
ENGLAND 5, SAN MARINO 0

ARSENE Wenger has previously shared his top goal with the nation: to see England “win the World Cup with six players form Arsenal”. 

In truth, the Three Lions looked a far cry from being world-beaters as they won 5-0 against San Marino at Wembley on Thursday night.

But there was a growing Gunners presence at the heart of the team that suggests Wenger’s dream isn’t quite as ludicrous as it sounds.

Calum Chambers was handed his first England start, joining Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck in the starting line-up, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came off the bench at half-time to join in the fun. Add a fit again Theo Walcott and suddenly Wenger has his six.

Quizzed about the large Arsenal contingent in the England team, man-of-the-match Wilshere said: “It was nice. I can’t remember the last time that happened.”

Wilshere missed the chance to open his goalscoring account for England but was still the national side’s standout player, earning praise from manager Roy Hodgson. 

“I thought Jack’s passing was outstanding,” he said. “He played a kay part.”

The win was always going to be a formality. Questions could be asked about the performance, however. England started out far too narrow against the amateur collection of shop and factory workers, and didn’t give the fans much to cheer despite going in at the break 2-0 up.

Phil Jagielka rose unmarked from a corner to head in the opening goal on 24 minutes, before Wayne Rooney thumped home a penalty just before half-time. In the second half Oxlade-Chamberlain came on for Jordan Henderson, and didn-t take long to make his mark as he set up club team-mate Welbeck who coolly made it 3-0.

Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham also had reason to cheer as Andros Townsend came on for Welbeck and soon added his name to the score-sheet, rifling home the goal of the game form 20 yards. England’s fifth came from an Alessandro Delle Valle own goal after Rooney’s attempted chip cannoned off the defender’s shoulder.

“We are happy with the result against an improving San Marino side,” said Hodgson. “Now on to the Estonia match.”

ENGLAND: Hart, Chambers, Cahll, Jagielka, Gibbs, Henderson (Oxlade-Chamberlain, 46), Milner, Wilshere, Welbeck (Townsend, 65), Rooney, Sterling (Lallana 46)
Subs not used: Foster, Clyne, Baines, Delph, Shelvey, Lambert, Forster
Attendance: 55,990