Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is convinced that midfielder Jack Wilshere is now ready for regular first team football with both the club and England. The 18-year-old earned another Man of the Match display in the Emirates Cup win over Celtic after previously having done so in previous seasons.

And Wenger believes that after spending considerable time last season playing Premier League first team football for Bolton Wanderers, his prodigious talent can now be trusted to step up to the plate for his parent club.

“At 18 years of age you can have patience with a player, but I believe Wilshere is stronger than last year,” Wenger said to The Guardian.

“The few months he played at Bolton has definitely given him something. He will be used by us (next season) for sure.”

Wilshere came into the public eye last season after first being hailed as the future of England by Fabio Capello when the Italian spotted him representing the Gunners in the same tournament last season. The England boss also hinted that he could select the midfielder for the national team but as of now, that has yet to happen. However, Wilshere has already turned out for the Under-21 side regularly and could be elevated to the senior team soon, if the Italian holds true to his promise for a major shake-up of the Three Lions after the World Cup fiasco.

Wenger agrees with the assertion and claims that Wilshere should be a candidate to be part of the England set-up for Euro 2012 and swept away suggestions that the player might not be ready to represent his country at the highest level.

“For (Euro) 2012, he will be 20, that is a good age, so he cannot be ruled out for England.” added Wenger.

“No, you must deal with that with all good footballers. Theo (Walcott) was in the squad for the 2006 World Cup and it didn’t kill him.”

Tags: Arsenal, England, English Premier League, European Championship, Jack Wilshere