Wenger: I Don't Know How Wilshere Copes with All the Pressure ; As Arsenal's Teenage Star Prepares for the Carling Cup Final, a Face in the Wembley Crowd Reminds Him of the Pitfalls of Being the Next Big Thing

Summary

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WHEN Jack Wilshere walks out at Wembley this afternoon and looks for his family in the crowd, the Arsenal teenager may recognise another familiar face in the stands.

While Wilshere, the most complete young English player of his generation, delivers what many expect to be a command performance in today's Carling Cup final against Birmingham City, David Bentley will observe him with mixed emotions and, in all likelihood, thoughts of what might have been.

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Wenger: I Don't Know How Wilshere Copes with All the Pressure ; As Arsenal's Teenage Star Prepares for the Carling Cup Final, a Face in the Wembley Crowd Reminds Him of the Pitfalls of Being the Next Big Thing

Bentley, a spectator because he is Cup-tied after playing for Tottenham against Arsenal in an earlier round, knows the burden of expectation can drag you down as fast as it can elevate you to the stars.

Bentley, brought up in Arsenal's academy and raised on the principles of manager Arsene Wenger, was once the focus of t...

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