The Arsenal midfielder has joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan deal.
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere looks dejected
Arsenal legend Paul Merson has told Sky Sports that he was surprised Arsenal sanctioned a season-long loan deal for Jack Wilshere.
The midfielder was allowed to leave the Emirates on deadline day, opting to make a loan move to Bournemouth despite interest from clubs such as Crystal Palace and Roma.
He was allowed to leave after falling down the pecking order at the club, with the arrival of Granit Xhaka this summer meaning he was potentially the sixth option in Arsene Wenger’s central midfield plans.
The move came as something of a surprise given that the Frenchman has always stuck by Wilshere despite his injury problems.
For Merson however, it was the length of the move that surprised him most about the transfer.
“I was very surprised to see someone of Wilshere’s calibre to go on a season-long loan, you could understand if it was one or two months,” he told Sky Sports.
“You’d have to ask whether Wenger fancies Wilshere, that would be my question to him. Because there are other players at Arsenal who haven’t performed and they haven’t been out on loan.”
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere applauds fans after the game
Wilshere will now be keen to make a success of this loan spell and get his career back on track.
It is fair to say that he is fighting for his Arsenal career at the moment, with all indications being that a failure to succeed with the Cherries could spell the end of his time with the Gunners.
Should he prove to be a big hit in Eddie Howe’s side though, it will raise interesting questions about his long-term future in Arsene Wenger’s team.
Picture Supplied by Action Images – Jack Wilshere
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
