Arsenal need more characters like Jack Wilshere Many answers are proffered. The manager has become the all-pervading force, inhibiting players from dictating tactics or mood on the field. Academies cultivate strong techniques but not necessarily indomitable temperaments. So much is done for the modern pro that leadership traits can lapse. Or maybe the cause is simply a broader societal concern, the eroding of a culture that fosters responsibility takers. A decade ago, tough characters such as Patrick Vieira, Sol Campbell, Roy Keane, Gary Neville, Marcel Desailly, Alan Shearer and Didi Hamann were hard at work in the Premier League. Other men of mettle, such as John Terry, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Carragher, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs, are still involved at the highest level today but, sadly, their days are numbered. Where is the next generation of principals? Arsenal are a case in point. Blessed with many technical talents from Theo Walcott to Santi Cazorla, they remain short of graduates from the sleeves-rolled, never-surrender, hard-knocks school of Vieira and Tony Adams. Thomas Vermaelen should be a gritty leader from this mould, a winner who refuses to yield defensively, but the Belgian has lost some of his innate authority. Cast an eye down the Arsenal teamsheet and really only Jack Wilshere leaps out as a leader, an individual prepared to stand up and confront adversity. He could play for Barcelona. He has that willingness to accept a pass under pressure, to pick up any gauntlet, to face any challenge as well as possessing the requisite technical gifts. Wilshere has courage. Arsenal, and English football, need more of his gutsy ilk. Those who defend the academy system hail him as the ideal blend of attitude and aptitude, yet not many leaders follow him out of the nation's five-star, football finishing schools. Gareth Southgate, who has helped nurture some of the nation's elite youngsters, often voices his concern that a teenaged England international would struggle if lost in a foreign city. Some are too pampered, too removed from the old-school, character-forming reserve-team football. The academy system develops neat ball-players but the question remains whether it produces those of a sufficiently resilient disposition. England certainly need more leaders. Back at Euro 96, Terry Venables" team was packed with captains from David Seaman to Adams, Southgate to Campbell, Gary Neville to Stuart Pearce, Paul Ince to David Platt and on to Shearer. England's other most successful collection of players since 66, the Italia 90 squad of Bobby Robson's, was crammed with characters like Pearce, Platt, Terry Butcher, Bryan Robson, Chris Waddle, John Barnes and Gary Lineker, among others. This is not to imply that the current Premier League is a land of emotional pygmies. There are many giants inspiring their teams. Look at Manchester United; although short of the welter of powerful characters of yesteryear, whether Steve Bruce, Peter Schmeichel, Ince, Neville or Keane, they still boast leaders such as Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Rio Ferdinand in defence and now Robin van Persie in attack. These are individuals who will stand firm in a storm. Across town at City, the champions have such characters as Vincent Kompany, Joe Hart and Pablo Zabaleta. The importance of leaders is why Alan Pardew strives so hard to persuade Fabricio Coloccini to stay at Newcastle, why Harry Redknapp has built QPR's survival hopes around Ryan Nelsen, Clint Hill and Shaun Derry, and why Spurs" Andre Villas-Boas speaks so enthusiastically of Scott Parker's return. Other leaders can be found from Ashley Williams at Swansea City to Gary Caldwell and James McCarthy at Wigan, Ryan Shawcross at Stoke and Sylvain Distin, Phil Jagielka and Phil Neville at Everton. Such players are not superstars but their determination sends a message to team-mates and opposition alike. Yet consider the travails of Aston Villa. Ciaran Clark may mature into a fine centre-half and captain but whatever the management's issue with Richard Dunne (whether fitness or Financial Fair Play), the 33 year-old is missed for his organisational and defensive capacities. Character counts.