The 11 players who made their Arsenal debut the same season as Jack Wilshere
Jack Wilshere was 16 when he made his Arsenal debut, and many fans will have fond memories of the academy graduate.
The midfielder announced his retirement at the age of 30, and the news inevitably took fans back on a nostalgic trip to 2008 when he replaced Robin van Persie to become the Gunners' youngest ever debutant.
Wilshere wasn't the only player to join Arsenal in the 2008-09 season, and here's what happened to the others who made their first appearance for the club during that campaign .
Andrei ArshavinArshavin only joined Arsenal in the second half of the 2008-09 season, but he made an impact quite quickly.
The Russian international scored six goals for the Gunners before the end of the season, including a famous quadruple against Liverpool, and had netted 31 by the time he left north London.
He retired in 2018, having finished his career in Kazakhstan, and recently opened up about his fondness for former Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas.
Amaury BischoffBischoff arrived at Arsenal with a high ceiling but a spotty injury history and his debut against Wigan Athletic in November 2008 ended up being one of four games he played for the club.
The Portugal Under-21 international has spent most of the last decade in Germany, racking up over 150 league appearances in the Third Division for Preußen Munster and Hansa Rostock.
He is now back in Colmar, France, his hometown, playing fifth division football just a stone's throw from Strasbourg, the hometown of Arsène Wenger.
Rui FonteFonte's one and only appearance for Arsenal, who he joined aged 16 in 2006, was as a late substitute for Carlos Vela in a 3-0 European Cup win. the League against Wigan.
It has been a few nomadic years since then for the Portuguese winger, who was loaned out by Arsenal to Crystal Palace and Vitoria Setubal before a permanent move to Espanyol in 2011. Stints with Benfica, Braga, Fulham, Lille and Estoril followed and he now plays in the Portuguese Primeira Liga for Famalicao.
Gavin HoyteThe Leytonstone-born defender is coming out for Maidstone United these days, in case you were wondering.
Want to know more about Hoyte's career and his solitary league appearance for Arsenal? We have what you need.
READ: The story of Gavin Hoyte and his lonely Premier League game for Arsenal
Vito MannoneBert of Bert & Ernie Italian goalkeeper Mannone was a peripheral figure at Arsenal, having emerged as a third-choice substitute behind Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski. He then made 23 appearances for the club, including nine in the Premier League in 2012-13, before moving to Sunderland for more regular opportunities.
But he fell down the pecking order of David Moyes' Black Cats when they were relegated in 2016-17 and then moved to Reading.
The 34-year-old was signed by Ligue 1 giants Monaco in 2020 but is currently a free agent after being released at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Samir NasriDrip Doctors' most famous patron has shown he has a lot going for him after his £12m move from Marseille in the summer of 2008.
He had 27 goals and 16 assists in 127 appearances for Arsenal before a controversial move to City, during that spell in which Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Touré, Bacary Sagna and Gael C...
Jack Wilshere was 16 when he made his Arsenal debut, and many fans will have fond memories of the academy graduate.
The midfielder announced his retirement at the age of 30, and the news inevitably took fans back on a nostalgic trip to 2008 when he replaced Robin van Persie to become the Gunners' youngest ever debutant.
Wilshere wasn't the only player to join Arsenal in the 2008-09 season, and here's what happened to the others who made their first appearance for the club during that campaign .
Andrei ArshavinArshavin only joined Arsenal in the second half of the 2008-09 season, but he made an impact quite quickly.
The Russian international scored six goals for the Gunners before the end of the season, including a famous quadruple against Liverpool, and had netted 31 by the time he left north London.
He retired in 2018, having finished his career in Kazakhstan, and recently opened up about his fondness for former Arsenal team-mate Cesc Fabregas.
Amaury BischoffBischoff arrived at Arsenal with a high ceiling but a spotty injury history and his debut against Wigan Athletic in November 2008 ended up being one of four games he played for the club.
The Portugal Under-21 international has spent most of the last decade in Germany, racking up over 150 league appearances in the Third Division for Preußen Munster and Hansa Rostock.
He is now back in Colmar, France, his hometown, playing fifth division football just a stone's throw from Strasbourg, the hometown of Arsène Wenger.
Rui FonteFonte's one and only appearance for Arsenal, who he joined aged 16 in 2006, was as a late substitute for Carlos Vela in a 3-0 European Cup win. the League against Wigan.
It has been a few nomadic years since then for the Portuguese winger, who was loaned out by Arsenal to Crystal Palace and Vitoria Setubal before a permanent move to Espanyol in 2011. Stints with Benfica, Braga, Fulham, Lille and Estoril followed and he now plays in the Portuguese Primeira Liga for Famalicao.
Gavin HoyteThe Leytonstone-born defender is coming out for Maidstone United these days, in case you were wondering.
Want to know more about Hoyte's career and his solitary league appearance for Arsenal? We have what you need.
READ: The story of Gavin Hoyte and his lonely Premier League game for Arsenal
Vito MannoneBert of Bert & Ernie Italian goalkeeper Mannone was a peripheral figure at Arsenal, having emerged as a third-choice substitute behind Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski. He then made 23 appearances for the club, including nine in the Premier League in 2012-13, before moving to Sunderland for more regular opportunities.
But he fell down the pecking order of David Moyes' Black Cats when they were relegated in 2016-17 and then moved to Reading.
The 34-year-old was signed by Ligue 1 giants Monaco in 2020 but is currently a free agent after being released at the end of the 2021-22 season.
Samir NasriDrip Doctors' most famous patron has shown he has a lot going for him after his £12m move from Marseille in the summer of 2008.
He had 27 goals and 16 assists in 127 appearances for Arsenal before a controversial move to City, during that spell in which Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Touré, Bacary Sagna and Gael C...
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