Jack Wilshere is set to face his former club Arsenal for the first time, just three games into his West Ham career, and his new manager Manuel Pellegrini is confident the England international can still live up to the billing given to him during his early days at the Emirates.

He also compared the 26- year old midfielder to the Italian legendary midfield maestro Andrea Pirlo.

“And Pirlo is the same as Jack. He has the same characteristics as Jack,” Pellegrini was quoted as saying by Daily Star ahead of West Ham clash with Arsenal.

“If you need fast players they cannot do it. “But if you need good technical players that do not lose any balls, then they can play together.

“A lot of you will remember Juventus around four or five years ago, they played with one holding midfielder. It was Pirlo. “And Pirlo is the same as Jack. He has the same characteristics as Jack.

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