Jack Wilshere is 22 years old with 23 England caps. The international landscape has changed in the relatively short time he has been playing for his country. The golden generation is no more, and the Arsenal midfielder is proud to represent the next generation.

“There’s a lot of players who have come through Under-21s together and are now playing in the seniors,” he says. “We are all of a similar age – we all know each other very well – it’s a really good group. You can see the team spirit on the pitch. We stick together if we win or lose. We feel we are on a good run at the moment, and we want to continue that.

“All of a sudden, there seem to be lots of good young English players emerging at various clubs, but, for me, it’s great that we’ve got five players from Arsenal. There’s a lot from Liverpool as well; I have known Jordan Henderson for years – but, as I say, we all know each other and get on well.”

The qualification process for Euro 2016 might prove somewhat turgid, as too many teams in the group appear to have no realistic chance of making the finals, but Wilshere is already counting the positives. England have made a solid start, have the chance to pick up a third successive win on Sunday in Estonia, and – by the time the tournament in France comes around – Roy Hodgson’s young team should be in its prime.

“I feel we are getting better as a team – there’s a lot more to come,” Wilshere says. “We don’t have to worry about the past; all the players from that golden generation have stopped playing at international level – there’s a space for us to come in and write some history ourselves. We want to win something with England. We want to get through this qualification, go to the Euros and really do something.”

This is not just the impatience of youth talking. Wilshere is not dismissive of the previous generation – far from it. He admits he has learned a lot from watching his heroes, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard among them. He just feels that, now they have stepped down, the responsibility has devolved to a younger group of players.

“Lampard and Gerrard were fantastic for England,” he says. “I looked up to them from being a young kid, and to play with them in the same England team was a dream come true. Now it’s down to us, but I always feel you can learn from good players. I’ve been watching clips of Xabi Alonso a lot recently, because I’ve been asked to play a bit deeper. I like his cleverness, his decision-making on the ball. In that role, it’s important to understand that – if you lose the ball – the opposition will be in a dangerous position.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The England manager, Roy Hodgson, and the captain, Wayne Rooney, say the 5-0 victory over San Marino will not be relevant when they face Estonia

“When you are playing a bit higher that doesn’t matter so much – if you lose it, other players have the chance to win it back. I lost the ball 50 yards out in the Switzerland game, and – when you do that – it’s a long way back for the whole team. I am more of a box-to-box player, but I think I can play that holding role. I enjoy starting attacks and using the ball.

“Obviously, I learned a lot from Cesc Fàbregas at Arsenal, too. He has been in my position; he was playing week in week out from 16 – which was even younger than me – in a really strong team. He proved everyone wrong by keeping his place, and grew up in that position. He helped me a lot.”

Wilshere can remember being the only Arsenal player in the England squad not too long ago – a far cry from the situation at Wembley on Thursday evening, when half the outfield had Emirates connections. While he and Kieran Gibbs have been playing together since the age of 10, Danny Welbeck only became an Arsenal team-mate two months ago, but his subsequent success has come as no surprise to someone who has long been a fan.

“The main thing about Danny is his confidence,” Wilshere says. “I knew before we signed him he could play centre-forward and score goals. He didn’t get that many chances at Manchester United to play at the top, but I told everyone that – if he got a run of games there – he would get goals. He’s got the chance to be the main man now at Arsenal, and he’s showing everyone what he can do.

“I remember when he told me at England training in summer that a move to Arsenal might be on. I thought he was joking. He said Tottenham were interested as well, and I just told him he had to come to us.

“He did and he’s been great. He brings something different with his runs behind defences. We are really glad to have him now we have lost Olivier Giroud [to injury]. His attitude is fantastic, you see his work rate in games – I think he actually likes the pressure of being the key man. There’s not many centre-forwards who give you that work rate and score goals.”

The first European Championship Wilshere can remember watching was the 2004 tournament in Portugal, where Wayne Rooney excelled. If it now appears unlikely that the England captain will ever be as effective again – if a somewhat diminished force of nature these days is no longer capable of terrorising defences on his own – at least Wilshere can vouch for the fact that Rooney’s enthusiasm for the game is undimmed.

“Wayne is a natural leader, he’s always talking to us and everyone can see his hunger for the game is still there.” he says. “Even when Steven Gerrard was captain, Wayne was a big voice in the dressing room. He encourages people, gets everyone going, and he isn’t scared to tell you if he thinks you are doing something wrong. He’s been like that ever since I came into the squad, he hasn’t had to change anything since becoming captain.”