Jack Wilshere

Published: 21 November, 2013
by STEVE BARNETT

JACK Wilshere has admitted that having grown up at Arsenal he now wants to captain the club one day.

The 21-year-old (pictured), who will be hoping to be back in the starting line-up on Saturday when the Gunners host high-flying Southampton, is one of the longest-serving players in the current squad having made 113 appearances.

The father of two also said, having matured both on and off the pitch, he is now fully focused on becoming a true leader in the dressing room.

“I’ve grown up at this club,” he told Arsenal Player. “And I have captained the club at Under-16s level, Under-18s level and last season I got the arm-band for 20 minutes or so against West Ham which was a nice feeling.

“Now I want to be a leader for this club. From the team that I first broke into a lot of the players have gone. There’s Sagna as well, but I’m one of the only midfielders who has been around for a while.”

Wilshere believes that the team spirit this season is the finest he has experienced during his time at the club. “At the moment I would probably say it’s the best atmosphere I’ve ever been involved in the dressing room,” he said.

“There are some real characters in there, some funny guys and some serious guys.

“There are also the professional guys who want to get things done and don’t like people being late, so everyone’s disciplined.”