Top-selling official EPL player jerseys

Robin van Persie’s popularity at Manchester United since joining from Arsenal in the summer is demonstrated by news that his is the best-selling official Barclays Premier League shirt in North America this season.



Figures released by Sporting ID, which produces the names, numbers and sleeve badges of the Barclays Premier League, show that the United forward, who has scored 11 Premier League goals so far, leads his United strike partner Wayne Rooney, who was found to have had the best-selling shirt in the League’s history. In third is Chelsea striker Fernando Torres.

"North American soccer fans support the Barclays Premier League as fanatically as anywhere else"

Robert Thayne

United States striker Clint Dempsey is the biggest mover, rising to sixth after his move from Fulham to Tottenham Hotspur in August. Dempsey is the first US player to make the top 10 in North American sales.

"North American soccer fans continue to support the Barclays Premier League as fanatically as anywhere else, often waking at 4am to catch games on TV," said Sporting iD’s global sales and marketing director Robert Thayne. "Players like Van Persie, Eden Hazard, Clint Dempsey, Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere are top-class players playing for the biggest clubs in the world and their fans in North America are really no different than the ones who live in the UK.

“They are clearly showing their support of these players and their club by personalizing jerseys with official Premier League player names, numbers and sleeve badges.”



Top-selling official Barclays Premier League player jerseys in North America : -



1. Robin van Persie (Manchester United)

2. Wayne Rooney (Manchester United)

3. Fernando Torres (Chelsea)

4. Eden Hazard (Chelsea)

5. Frank Lampard (Chelsea)

6. Clint Dempsey (Tottenham Hotspur)

7. Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

8. Javier Hernandez (Manchester United)

9. Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United)

10. Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)

Wenger: Wilshere's becoming our Cesc

Arsene Wenger says Jack Wilshere is taking on the same qualities as Cesc Fabregas after the England midfielder inspired Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Montpellier in the Champions League on Wednesday.



Wilshere made a well-timed break into the penalty area early in the second half to make a crucial breakthrough for Arsenal, latching onto Olivier Giroud's header to poke past the Montpellier goalkeeper.



It was a goal that eventually led to a victory that sweeps Arsenal into the knockout stages of the Champions League, with Lukas Podolski making things safe later in the game - rattling home a piledriver of a volley.



Wenger was asked of Wilshere's likeness to Fabregas, who used to pull the strings for the Gunners, and he responded on Sky Sports: "Yes. He is getting stronger physically and tonight he got in the box.



"He is a complete midfielder - he can defend well and attack well. This sort of situation will give him confidence."



Wenger made no bold predictions, though, about Arsenal winning their maiden Champions League trophy, preferring to take each tie as it comes in the last-16.



"We don't worry too much about that," the Frenchman said. "When you are in this competition you just want to get into the next round. Now we go into a cup competition."



Wilshere sounded a note of caution to Gunners fans, preferring to focus on the task of topping the group before they even think about getting to the quarter-finals.



"We started off sloppy. But we've still got one game left. We need to finish top," the youngster said.



"The first half was hard - we were sloppy, we gave the ball away and weren't ourselves so needed to come and get an early goal.



"We have to step it up. Tonight wasn't good enough, especially in the first half. We've got to play the best teams to win it so it doesn't matter who we get."

Wilshere ruled out until October

Arsene Wenger says Jack Wilshere will not play for Arsenal before October.



The 20-year-old England midfielder missed the whole of the 2011-12 campaign with an ankle problem, and had minor knee surgery in May.

"Hopefully, we will get Wilshere back playing for October," said Wenger, before Arsenal's final match of their Asia tour in Hong Kong.

"With Abou Diaby returning, it will be like signing two new players. The squad will be strong and competitive."

Wilshere injured his right ankle last summer and had successful surgery, only to suffer a stress fracture during his rehabilitation in January.

A long-standing knee injury then flared up during his rehabilitation, meaning he also missed Euro 2012.

Wilshere hopes to resume light training in August, with his sights set on a return to action in October.



It means he is ruled out of England's opening two World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine, which take place in early September.