Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits 16-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere is already being compared with Gunners legend Liam Brady. Wilshere netted Arsenal s fifth as the youngsters handed Championship side Sheffield United a footballing lesson in the Car

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits 16-year-old midfielder Jack Wilshere is already being compared with Gunners legend Liam Brady.

Wilshere netted Arsenal's fifth as the youngsters handed Championship side Sheffield United a footballing lesson in the Carling Cup on Tuesday night.

Carlos Vela was the star of the show, scoring three on his full debut, with Nicklas Bendtner netting the other two.

Stevenage-born Wilshere, however, was singled out for special praise by the manager.

"People tell me Jack is a little bit like Liam Brady because he has good balance and change of direction," said Wenger after the 6-0 win. "I don't know Liam well enough.

"I believe later [in his career] he will be a central midfielder or behind the strikers."

Wenger was also, understandably, delighted with a side with an average age of just 19. He was not, he insisted, surprised at the spectacular performance nor the thumping result.

"The team showed a good mixture of talent," he added.

"I'm not as surprised as you (the media) because I see them every day but you never know how they'll respond on the big stage.

"They just went out there are played with the belief we want them to have and with the spirit we want them to have.

"They also showed a mature collective spirit to play the way we want to play. They remained focused and they looked a complete team.

"I am very proud of that. We looked strong in every individual position and that takes a lot of hard work.