Jack Wilshere: A Gunner for life?

Jack Wilshere has been at Arsenal since the age of nine and has no plans to leave [GALLO/GETTY]

Loyalty to one club is rare amongst today’s English Premier League footballers.

Money and the opportunity of winning trophies usually controls where the world’s top players will end up.

Welshmen Ryan Giggs has played out his career at Manchester United but with Alex Ferguson at the helm it would have been foolish of him to move anywhere else.

However, one of England’s hottest young talents has made the brave move of pledging his future to just one club – and not one that is guaranteed the success of Manchester United. 

He is still only a teenager, but England midfielder Jack Wilshere has assured Arsenal fans of his commitment by saying he never wants to leave the north London club.

This is despite Arsenal being trophyless for the last six seasons.

Gunner be around

Wilshere, 19, has been with the Gunners since he was nine years old and began to establish himself in the first team at the start of last season after a successful loan spell at Bolton Wanderers in the second half of the 2009-10 season.

Although he is currently sidelined until at least January or February following major ankle surgery, Wilshere has promised his future to the club.

“Can I promise I will be at Arsenal for ever? I can promise that, yes,” he told reporters.

“I’ve been at the club since I was nine and I’ve learned to love it. From the Patrick Vieira days, to Dennis Bergkamp, Cesc Fabregas, I’ve watched them come through and move on.

“But now there’s a crop of new players, Aaron Ramsey, myself, Kieran Gibbs, hopefully we can really create something special. I love the club and I want to be part of its future.”

Arsenal have recovered after a poor start to the season and have climbed to seventh in the Premier League table after winning their last four league matches since a 2-1 defeat at arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur on October 2.

The news will be a welcome relief for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger who waved goodbye to talented playmakers Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas at the start of the season.