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Arsenal's Jack Wilshere celebrates scoring during the Emirates Cup soccer match between Arsenal and Rangers at The Emirates Stadium in London, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)

LONDON (AP) — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has downplayed Jack Wilshere's likely impact this season and his chances of playing in next year's World Cup despite the 17-year-old midfielder's stellar performance at a preseason tournament this weekend.

Wilshere scored two goals Sunday in a 3-0 victory over Rangers in the Emirates Cup, showing pace and strength down the right side of the pitch. He also starred in Saturday's 2-1 win over Atletico Madrid, winning the man-of-the-match award on both days.

However, Wenger doesn't believe Wilshere is ready to play every week of the 38-game Premier League season.

"The whole Premier League season? Certainly not," Wenger said. "How many games will he play? I don't know. The only problem in England, knowing the impatience of English people, is it's a bit difficult to keep the right pace in his progress."

The fact that England coach Fabio Capello was in the stands watching Sunday won't help quell the growing buzz over Wilshere.

"I don't think that over two games like that, he (Capello) will make a decision. But you never know," Wenger said. "Fortunately, it's Capello's problem, not my problem.

"The World Cup is next year. There's still a year to go. Let's first see how he (Wilshere) improves and how he plays, if he's consistent. Let's not make stars in two games."

Wilshere has drawn comparisons to Arsenal winger and England international Theo Walcott. In 2006, then England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson selected Walcott for the World Cup squad despite only playing 23 games for League Championship side Southampton. Walcott never kicked a ball for England at the tournament in Germany, sitting on the bench for all five games.

The left-footed Wilshere's ability to retain possession and run at defenders, bursting past to create scoring opportunities, first caught Wenger's eye. Wilshere is also more powerful after having bulked up his physique in the past year, when he first started training with the Gunners' top players.

Wilshere broke into the first team last season, becoming the youngest player — at 16 years, 256 days — to play for Arsenal in the Premier League. He also came on twice as a substitute in the Champions League.

"I put him at 16 years of age in the dressing room and gave him a chance to practice every day with the first-team players," Wenger said. "If I had taken him out of the youth team now, you would not have seen what you have seen today. That means he has benefited a lot from special treatment and an acceleration of his education."

On Sunday, Wilshere fired a shot inside the area to beat goalkeeper Allan McGregor in the second minute. He scored a second goal in the 72nd, volleying a cross from midfielder Aaron Ramsey past McGregor.

Eduardo da Silva had earlier struck a low shot that ricocheted in off the far post in the 10th.

Arsenal finished fourth in the Premier League last season, spending several weeks in fifth place and under threat of not qualifying for this season's Champions League. The team hasn't lifted a trophy since the FA Cup in 2005 and last won the league in 2004.

Wenger has relied on youth in recent seasons, declining to spend big money on established players.