Theo Walcott names Arsenal’s greatest academy product

According to Walcott, Arsenal’s greatest-ever academy product was actually Jack Wilshere.

Wilshere was a top player in his day, there’s no doubt about that.

The midfielder was seen as a true diamond of a player in his time, during a time when England were struggling to produce technical midfield players while Spain were dominating world football with the likes of Xavi and Iniesta, along came Wilshere.

Wilshere wowed everyone as a teenager, but, sadly, his Arsenal career didn’t exactly go to plan.

Wilshere was meant to be the keystone of Arsene Wenger’s latter years, but due to perennial injury issues, Arsenal released Wilshere in 2018.

A move to West Ham would follow, but Wilshere would only ever play 18 league games for West Ham as his injury issues refused to subside.

Sadly, Wilshere was retired by the age of 30, and he has since made the transition into coaching with Luton Town.

Who knows? Maybe one day Wilshere will return to Arsenal and manage the club, but with Mikel Arteta building a dynasty at the Emirates, that may be a long way away.

Wilshere may not have had the Arsenal career he dreamed of, but in terms of players to come out of the Gunners’ academy, he may well be the most technically gifted player we’ve ever seen come out of Hale End.