Arsene Wenger is in no doubt Jack Wilshere has "huge potential" after the young midfielder committed his long-term future to Arsenal.
Earlier this week Wales international Aaron Ramsey, 18, agreed a contract extension, while the Gunners also handed professional contracts to four members of their successful FA Youth Cup team.
"Jack made great progress last season, playing at Under-18s, reserves and first-team level, and we all witnessed what a great young talent he is," said Wenger.
Wilshere signed pro forms when he turned 17 on New Year's Day having already become the youngest Arsenal player to represent the club in both the league and European competition, making his first-team breakthrough last season.
Hertfordshire-born Wilshere has been at the club since he was just nine, and Wenger firmly believes the midfielder - an integral member of the FA Youth Cup-winning side - is set for a bright future at Emirates Stadium.
Wenger added on www.arsenal.com: "At still 17 years of age, the potential is huge for Jack and we are all delighted he has committed his long-term future to Arsenal."
Ramsey, meanwhile, has no intention of resting on his laurels after making 22 appearances last season following a move from Cardiff. The Wales midfielder hopes to follow in the footsteps of fellow youngster Theo Walcott, now established in both the Arsenal first team and full England squad.
"Theo and I both came from Championship clubs to join Arsenal and I think my first year has been quite similar to Theo's first year at Arsenal," said Ramsey.
"Then in the second year he played a lot more games and got more experience under his belt, so hopefully I can take the same path.
Ramsey added: "Now I want to be more regular in the starting XI, get a lot more games under my belt and hopefully start more games as well. They are my targets."
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JCSERVICE i see stupidity follow ur being. if you are trying to abbrviate "you are" then its you're not your. and Arsenal is one club not more than on so its why is Arsenal not why are Arsenal. smart people follow Gunners that is why we have a Prof. you are nt a fan just a moran. and clueless at that.
ALLEN # 7 you rock. thats what u call a true GUNNER. every year i bought a jersey or a shorts most of these so called gunners are fakes. never even bought a scarf.
did you know arsenal have the third highest amount of english players in there club in the premiership, behind wigan and birmingham, obviously not, and yes i am a girl, how does it feel that a girl knows more about football than you jcservice? i think you'll eat your words next year. did you know we are the only club in the top 4 that haven't sold out and are still the original arsenal with only one addition to the board, i'm proud of that, proud we are not a sell out club and if we come 4th again next season so be it, it's a growing team. i'm a patient person and i understand we have a new stadium, which other clubs have a new stadium, manu is falling down, chelsea is a council estate and liverpool, well thats falling apart cause the scouse gits steal from there, last time i went someone stole the paving slabs from outside the game the night before the liverpool watford game!!
proud to be arsenal, proud to have a new stadium, proud to be building a team and proud that the team makes a profit every year, year in year out even with £400m dept!
rehan_kazi@1 and jcservice2003 @2, i totally disagree with both of you. You guys complain about not having enough young English players, yet when managers like Wenger encourages them and plays them. ( and having known their potentials more than you), you come up with such lame and stupid comments. If players like Giggs, Scholes, Beckham, Owen, were not given the chance, would they be as good today?. could you please show us 1 young exceptional british talent from the teams you have mentioned, Wenger is trying his best to groom young british talents in Players like Ramsey, Wilshire, Gibbs, Walcott.
It is a big shame that you people are being blinded with hype and all the outrageous transfer fees in football recently. i bet you if Real madrid or AC millan shows interest in any of these "average starlets" you two will be the first to change your comments and start singing praises as usual. wake up mates!!!
Rehan, you obviously know alot about football mate, Arsenal have no choice but to buy. Even if that means going into debt, otherwise it will be a terrible decline down the table and the yids would love that!
Thanks Gemma you wally! what do you know about football mate, and I love your girly namem ha ha ha ha ha and no your not a girl your a dood! yes put that in your dictionary pal
jcservice, you are an idiot who quite clearly knows nothing about arsenal and quite clearly can't spell. if you are still at school you may want to start paying attention!!
I agree Rehan, why are arsenal trying to blind us with this stupidity, we dont want to resign these average players that we have we want to buy new players to give us what we dont have. There are on 6 quality players at Arsenal, rosiky, Fabrigas, Edwardo, Van persie, Nasri and Arshavin, the rest of the 22 are useless and very disposable. We will not finish 4th next year and wenger will leave and take fabrigas with him!
God help the Gunners if we have players like Ramsey, Wilshire in a starting XI against teams of the calibre of Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Real Madrid, Barcelona!!
Out with these average starlets!!
Gunner for life
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