Proudest day of my life! Arsenal's Jack Wilshere Tweets touching photo with his newborn baby boy hours after the birth

By Georgina Littlejohn for MailOnline
Updated: 06:43 EST, 30 September 2011

Arsenal's Jack Wilshere became a father for the first time and tweeted a photo of himself cradling the new bundle of joy to share his good news with the world.

He and girlfriend Lauren Neal welcomed baby boy Archie to the world yesterday afternoon.

The 19-year-old midfielder took to his Twitter page to announced the news and declare that he was a 'proud dad' and later added the touching black and white photo.

Sealed with a kiss: Jack Wilshere shows his fatherly love for his newborn son in a photo posted to his Twitter page

Sealed with a kiss: Jack Wilshere shows his fatherly love for his newborn son in a photo posted to his Twitter page

Hobbling along: Jack, who has suffered a stress fracture on his right ankle. visited central London's Portland Hospital on crutches today

Hobbling along: Jack, who has suffered a stress fracture on his right ankle. visited central London's Portland Hospital on crutches today

In the picture he is seen cradling his son and placing a tender kiss on his forehead.

Moments before, he wrote: 'The proudest day of my life today!

'Archie Jack Wilshere was born at 15.06 uk time and weighed 7lb 11oz. I am the happiest man in the world!'

Archie is Jack and Lauren's first child and the pair were 'shocked but delighted' to find out she was pregnant a few months after they split up.

Full of pride: The Arsenal star is seen placing a tender hand on girlfriend Lauren's bump during a break in Sardinia

Full of pride: The Arsenal star is seen placing a tender hand on girlfriend Lauren's bump during a break in Sardinia

Proud dad: Jack announced Archie's birth on his Twitter page this afternoon

Proud dad: Jack announced Archie's birth on his Twitter page this afternoon

New parents: Jack Wilshere and his girlfriend Lauren Neal, seen here last month, welcomed son Archie to the world this afternoon

New parents: Jack Wilshere and his girlfriend Lauren Neal, seen here last month, welcomed son Archie to the world this afternoon

He split with Lauren, 22, who works as a hairdresser, at the start of this year but they rekindled their relationship this summer.

A source close to the couple told The Sun 'They're both delighted. It took time to sink in as it wasn't exactly planned.'

Jack will be able to spend some quality time with his new son after suffering a stress fracture to his right ankle.

Star player: Jack, seen here with Manchester United's Ji-Sung Park, earns £50,000 a week at Arsenal

Star player: Jack, seen here with Manchester United's Ji-Sung Park, earns £50,000 a week at Arsenal

He could be out of action until late February following surgery on Monday, which, unfortunately for the club, is a longer rehabilitation period than had been expected.

Jack Tweeted a picture of himself in his hospital bed last week and said that he hoped to be back 'around Christmas time'.

Out of action: Jack Tweeted a picture of himself after surgery on his ankle which will keep him out until early next year

Out of action: Jack Tweeted a picture of himself after surgery on his ankle which will keep him out until early next year


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