Jack Wilshere is many things, an emerging superstar, a youngster who is tipped for big things with both club and country, a hardworking midfielder, who excels in the playmaker role.

One thing Jack Wilshere isn’t, according to him, is complacent. Speaking to the crowd at Arsenal’s Member’s Day(photos here), Wilshere said that although his Gunners career is off to a hot start, he feels more responsibility than ever, and feels he still needs to prove himself.

“I don’t really feel any more pressure now,” he said. “I play in a good team so the players around me make it easier. There is a bit more responsibility though. At this stage last year I had not played a game for Arsenal. I was just trying to prove myself. I am still trying to prove myself now really. I am just trying to keep my place in the team.

“I am still young and I know I have a lot to learn but there is a bit more responsibility on me now.”

Speaking for myself, I can’t imagine any other player’s shoulders I’d rather put that responsibility on. After his meteoric rise to stardom last season, few of us would fault Jack for resting on his laurels, but from the sounds of things he has no intention of doing anything of the sort.

Jack is an outspoken young lad and with a few more years of Premier League action under his belt, I could easily see him wearing the captain’s band. I have a feeling that Arsenal’s chances for success this season will depend largely on whether or not young players like Ramsey and Frimpong can follow in Wilshere’s footsteps by having breakthrough season’s in the first team.

Thomas Vermaelen also spoke at Member’s Day, and he stressed his belief that it’s the ‘little things’ which will determine whether or not this coming season ends in success for the Gunners.

“I don’t think we are going to do much different in the way we play,” said the Belgian defender. “I was not playing last year but I was watching games and in February/March I thought we were going to win the League. I think it is about small things and last season we only lost it in the final few weeks.

“What we do have to do is perform better in the second half of the season, in the New Year. That is where we dropped too many points. But I don’t think we have to change the way that we play. We beat a lot of teams this way. It is just the small details that will make a difference and I hope we can win it this year.”

I will continue to suggest that Arsenal would have done better in the second half had Arsene bothered to strengthen the side. Regardless, I am curious exactly which “small details” Thomas is referring to.

If by “small details” he means the multiple catastrophic defensive errors that led to several dropped points and missed opportunities last season, then yes, I will agree. Fixing the “small details” could be what leads to success for Arsenal this season.