Gary Neville: Jack Wilshere’s bus parade rant was one of best things I’d seen in 10 years

The Arsenal star came under intense scrutiny after the Gunners successfully defended their FA Cup crown with a 4-0 hammering of a dismal Aston Villa at Wembley.

Wilshere led Arsenal’s celebrations during their open-top bus parade around London, instigating a derogatory chant about Tottenham, which landed the England midfielder in hot water with the FA, who slapped him with a misconduct charge.

However, despite the criticism Wilshere received, former Manchester United defender Neville is of a very different opinion.

"When Jack Wilshere swore on a bus ride, I actually thought it was one of the best things Ive seen from a football player in the last five or 10 years," he told Sport magazine.

"If I was a manager of players that all had that passion... Alright, they'd obviously been out the night before.

"But the reality of it is we cry out for players to have passion, and yet we are quite critical of them when they display passion."

Neville had a number of run-ins with the FA during his long career – most famously when he taunted Liverpool fans in 2006 after United scored a late winner. And although the current England coach is on Wilshere’s side over the bus parade rant, there is one thing the pair disagree on.

"There were moments in my career where I... overstepped the mark," he added. "I actually challenged every FA charge I had, so that's the difference. Jack took the punishment!"