After their FA Youth Cup victory over Wolves, Arsenal coach Steve Bould says Jack Wilshere will benefit from being involved in the Cup run.

"The first half they man-marked him and made it very difficult," admitted the Under-18s manager on arsenal.com. "The No 4 followed him everywhere and that's probably a new regime for any English player - that just doesn't happen anymore. It is great for him and his development.

"I thought the last 20 minutes of the first half he really started to come into the game and then when Wolves changed their system in the second half I thought he was getting the ball in good areas and he looked dangerous all night."

Wilshere has been almost ever-present in Wenger's first-team squads since September, enjoying a handful of cameo appearances in the process. In Bould's opinion, games in his own age group could become a vital supplement to his overall progression.

"It is great when we have him as I think he needs some games because he doesn't get a lot of minutes," said Bould. "I think the games programme at the moment will suit him. We hope that the gaffer will develop him and he's going to play in the first team.

"I'm given him in these games. He has made that step-up to the first team and he trains with them every day. He was with us yesterday and it's the first time I've had him but that is the way we want it for him.

"He's developing with the gaffer and he knows what he can do; he'll play him when he's ready."