Arsenal reserves coach Neil Banfield is delighted with 16 year-old midfielder Jack Wilshire's first team promotion this season.

"If the young players work hard at their game, listen to the advice of the coaching staff, they realise they will have every opportunity here," Banfield told Arsenal.com. "The manager has always said he will play them if they are good enough, and he is true to his word; he always has been in every way. But the bar is extremely high and you have to be over it to get the opportunity.

"Jack was given the opportunity by the manager to go on the Austrian Training Camp, along with five others who have all done really well. Jack has taken his chance, and he is one of quite a few we have here that we have high hopes for.

"You have to adapt to the physical aspects of the game, and I think Jack is strong enough. It is about how you physically develop and I think with Jack, even at 16, it doesn't mean he won't be as physically strong as someone at 18 or even someone at 20.

"That has been the benefit of our Reserve team. The experienced players that our lads are up against means they learn on the pitch. The senior players then show them what to do while the game is going on. That is carried on for the young lads who learned so much in Austria."