Could Jack Wilshere be the perfect fit at the London Stadium?
The news that Arsene Wenger is willing to allow midfielder Wilshere to leave, as reported by the BBC, is a huge fall from grace for the 24 year-old, who was once recognised as the future of English football.
Injuries have cost the Arsenal man a place in a fiercely competitive midfield, with the best option now being a loan spell to prove his worth and force his way back into the Arsenal side and England set-up.
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere waits to come on as manager Arsene Wenger looks on
Is West Ham United the perfect fit for Wilshere?
West Ham’s move to the London Stadium is being hailed as a new dawn and a chance to go to the next level and compete with the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal. If they were to secure the services of Wilshere it would be a step in the right direction.
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere warms up during the game
For Wilshere, games are an necessity. 17 minutes against Leicester and 20 minutes on Saturday at Vicarage Road added to the fact that in eight years he’s only made 150 appearances, starting only 29 games since the 2013/14 season, speaks volumes about the amount of football the midfielder has missed out on.
England manager Sam Allardyce has said, as quoted by the Independent, that he will need to play regular football if he is to get back into the squad:
“Jack just hasn’t had enough game time. Hopefully he will get that in the future at Arsenal. If Jack Wilshere was playing every week for Arsenal, he would be in the squad. But unfortunately he isn’t. It is game time for him and it has been few and far between because he has had too many injuries unfortunately.”
Slaven Bilic’s side have been hit with injuries across the squad so the potential addition of Wilshere would no doubt help their cause as well as adding a touch of quality to complement the likes of Dimitri Payet and Manuel Lanzini.
West Ham’s Manuel Lanzini celebrates scoring their first goal with Dimitri Payet
He would be the link from midfield to attack to enable the likes of Payet and Lanzini to get on the ball and create chances for the forward players. The possibility of a pairing of Wilshere and captain Mark Noble in the deep line positions of the midfield will also excite West Ham supporters.
Despite exiting the Europa League early, it will be another season where the Hammers will look to replicate the heights they reached last season in the league with a seventh-placed finish.
For the midfielder he would join a competitive side where he would be tested to keep his place in the team although with the ability he has, the midfielder would be a real asset to West Ham and a crucial member of the squad. At Arsenal it’s fair to say he’s become the ‘forgotten man’ and maybe a loan to a new club would give Wilshere a new lease of life as he looks to reignite his Gunners career.
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere with manager Arsene Wenger as he is subtituted
It’s also only a move across to East London which will enable Wilshere to stay in the capital meaning it won’t be a huge change, so he may be able to slot in easily and look to force his way into Bilic’s plans.
A test for the midfielder as he bids to break back into the Arsenal and England side, but the first hurdle will be to gain minutes out on loan, but will it be at West Ham?
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