Back in 2010, Bolton Wanderers played a critical role in developing Jack Wilshere into a Champions League star for Arsenal, in a deal where every single party involved ended up being winners.
The midfielder had yet to break into Arsene Wenger’s first team plans by January 2010, but there was a lot of excitement surrounding his potential.
The teenager had made two appearances in the Premier League, as well as five in the Champions League, before joining the Whites for the second half of the 2009/10 season.
He’d played a total of 153 minutes of senior football prior to his move to Bolton, with a start against Olympiacos in the group stage of the Champions League providing the bulk of the tally.
There was a lot of anticipation regarding his loan move to Owen Coyle’s side, with the new manager looking to bolster his side in order to avoid any kind of relegation battle.
Wilshere had just turned 18, but the fact he was already receiving minutes in the Premier League and Champions League led many to believe he could be a top class player in the future.
Bolton Wanderers loan worked wonders for Jack Wilshere and Arsenal
Football - West Ham United v Bolton Wanderers Barclays Premier League - Upton Park - 6/3/10 Jack Wilshere celebrates after scoring Bolton's second goal Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Alex Morton Livepic NO ONLINE/INTERNET USE WITHOUT A LICENCE FROM THE FOOTBALL DATA CO LTD. FOR LICENCE ENQUIRIES PLEASE TELEPHONE +44 (0) 207 864 9000. 09/10
Bolton were 15th in the Premier League table when Wilshere joined the club in the final days of the winter transfer window.
The Whites were only one point clear of the relegation zone, and Coyle was only a couple of weeks in the job as manager after making the switch from Lancashire rivals Burnley - a move that saw him dubbed 'Judas' by the Clarets fanbase.
The midfielder had to wait until February 9 to make his first appearance for the club, starting in a 2-0 loss to Manchester City.
But he was only out of the side one more time between then and the end of the campaign, starting in 13 of his 14 games in Coyle’s side.
The standout moment came when Wilshere scored what proved to be the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over West Ham on 6 March.
His 16th minute strike, a clever scissor kick from close range, gave an ascendant Bolton team an early 2-0 lead, with the finish showing the clever inventiveness of the youngster.
An assist in a 2-2 draw against Portsmouth provided his only other goal contribution during this loan spell, but his general performances week-in and week-out were enough to still earn him plenty of praise.
He immediately cemented his place as a key part of the side once given his chance by Coyle, and that was instrumental in the club earning a 14th place finish by the end of the campaign.
Football - Arsenal v FC Barcelona - UEFA Champions League Second Round First Leg - Emirates Stadium, London, England - 10/11 - 16/2/11 Cesc Fabregas (R) and Jack Wilshere - Arsenal celebrate victory at full time Mandatory Credit: Action Images / John Sibley
Wenger was clearly quite pleased with the progress Wilshere made during his time on loan, as he returned in the summer and remained in the first team squad instead of going back out on loan.
Wilshere even started the opening game of the Premier League season, showing that he was now a key part of the Arsenal squad.
He made a total of 35 appearances in the top flight that season, with his stint at Bolton clearly providing him with the experience he needed to take the step up to one of the top sides in European football.
Perhaps the most famous night of that campaign came at the Emirates on 16 February when Wilshere bossed the midfield in a 2-1 win against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side in the first leg of their Last 16 tie in the Champions League.
Just 12 months on from his first senior goal against West Ham, he was man of the match in a game against the likes of Lionel Messi, Andreas Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.
In the meantime, Bolton again finished 14th under Coyle, maintaining their status as a Premier League side for the last time before suffering relegation in 2012.
While the Whites may not have returned to the top flight since then, supporters will still always remember Wilshere’s impact in the side all these years later.