Arsenal Juventus 1

Whisper it softly, but an English teenage sensation might just be about to come off Arsene Wenger's production line of talent.

He is Jack Wilshere, just 16, and Arsenal's manager had enough confidence in his precocious talent to show him off to his home Emirates crowd for the first time yesterday.

The best of it is, for a club who have scoured Europe and Africa to find the most talented kids to put through their Academy, he comes from just up the road in the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage.

Wenger is delighted with the slimly-built Wilshere. "You must not be put off by his small size," he said. "He is in there and he knows what it is all about.

"He is not fazed by the physical challenges, and he really looks mature on the pitch. Okay, he is 16 and we have to respect his development - but do not reproach me now about not playing English players!"

Stevenage was also home to Lewis Hamilton - and while it's unfair to suggest at the moment that Wilshere could be a Formula One footballer he gave some great glimpses.

Wenger had already shoved him into first team games during the club's pre-season trip to Austria to set the club websites buzzing with word of the new talent. He even scored in the 3-1 win in Stuttgart at the end of the tour.

Wilshere had a fraction under an hour yesterday, skipping in and out of the Emirates Cup game against Juventus with some delicious touches of a quality left foot.

After a summer of worry for Gunners fans with the loss of Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb, here was a reminder that Wenger is still the master at finding bargainpriced replacements.

Mexican midfielder Carlos Vela, brought in unheralded from Spanish club Osasuna, lit up the first half with some quality passing Arsenal should have got their noses in front but Nicklas Bendtner fired a free-kick over and squandered another good chance.

Instead they were beaten when David Trezeguet (below) turned in a free-kick from a few yards just before the interval - although keeper Lukasz Fabianski could feel hard done by because the French striker was clearly offside.

Arsenal's fans warmed to Wilshere, but gave Emmanuel Adebayor a mixed reception even though he has now confirmed he will sign a new contract and stay.

There were both boos and cheers when his name was read out among the pre-match substitutes, and a similar mix of enthusiasm and hostility when he came on after the interval.

The Togo striker, who scored 24 Premier League goals last season, could have got everybody on his side but put a header too close to Juventus keeper Frank Rost then smashed another chance a fraction too high.

Wenger said: "I understand the supporters' frustrations but I feel they are behind him. It is more disappointed love.

"He has always told me he wants to stay at the club, and so I have always believed him."