Now best known for his work in punditry, Stewart Robson enjoyed a 14-year career as a professional player before moving into his current ventures. A midfielder, Robson began his career with Arsenal, having spent three years in their youth academy before making his senior debut in 1981.
Robson showed versatility as a player in his youth, being comfortable as a full-back and on occasion, in central defence, along with his natural midfield position. Robson suffered the first of what would unfortunately be a long line of injuries in 1986, after which he struggled to regain his place in the Arsenal first team, particularly after the Gunners appointed George Graham as manager.
In 1987, Robson moved to West Ham United where, unfortunately for the England youth international, his injury problems only continued. Robson did become a mainstay in the West Ham first team for over two years but after their 1989 relegation, he was once again struck down by time on the sidelines.
Robson’s final club was Coventry City, who he joined in 1991 as a free agent. Injuries had caught up to Robson and after missing the entire 1994/95 season due to such a problem, he announced his retirement while still in his early 30s.
Back in 2018, as per talkSPORT, Robson spoke about a modern English talent who, similarly to Robson, saw a promising career blighted by injury.
‘The Best Talent I’d Seen’
Robson full of praise for now-retired star
Jack Wilshere of Arsenal looks on
After signing for West Ham as a free agent, Jack Wilshere was given an abundance of praise from Robson, the midfielder having spent his career, before then, with Arsenal. Speaking about Wilshere, Robson said:
“He’s somebody that goes past you with the ball, even if it’s only five or 10 yards when he initially breaks the challenge, that enables you to see the next pass - that through ball. That’s what Jack Wilshere has got to get back to doing. He had 38 games for Arsenal (in the 2017/18 season); there was a period of about 12 where he looked to be back to his very best.
“Everyone was saying, ‘Can he get in the England squad?’ I want to see him back to where he was four or five years ago where he was the best talent I’d seen from an English player since Paul Gascoigne.”
Wilshere progressed to the Arsenal first team at just 16 years old in 2008 and quickly cemented his status as one of the most promising talents in English football, becoming one of Arsenal’s youngest-ever players in the process. Wilshere battled injuries from early in his career, but never did they stop him displaying the sheer amount of natural talent he possessed.
Jack Wilshere Club Career Stats
Playing Career
Appearances
Goals
Assists
Yellow Cards
Straight Red Cards
Major Honours Won
For all of his ability, however, Wilshere could never quite find consistent fitness. He was released by Arsenal in 2018, moving to West Ham where he spent two further years. In 2021, Wilshere had a short stint with Bournemouth, who he played for as a loanee in the 2016/17 campaign.
Wilshere’s last club was AGF, a Danish side for whom the former England international made a handful of appearances. The midfielder retired soon after, at just 30 years of age.
Wilshere is now involved in coaching, having worked as interim manager of Norwich City towards the end of the 2024/25 campaign, but at 33 years old, the midfielder could still be playing in theory, were it not for the injuries that robbed the world of watching what would have been an incredible career.
( All stats are fromTransfermarktand are correct as of 13/06/2025 )
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