Jack Wilshere has been superb for Arsenal in the Europa League but now we’re approaching the brutal Premier League winter, he faces a fierce festive period.
Jack Wilshere is incredibly talented. That’s something no one would argue about. With the ball at his feet he is simply magical, full of deft invention and slick passing. Without the ball he is a terrier, more than willing to hunt it down and win it back.
As many commentators and pundits love to point out; there simply is no one quite like Jack Wilshere for England. What often goes unsaid is that there’s not really anyone like him for Arsenal, either. Well, except the injury-prone Santi Cazorla.
Injury has ravaged Wilshere’s career too, not letting him build on his sensational campaigns when he was a youngster. Despite being 25 he’s still not considerably better than that 19 year-old wizard who took on Barcelona and won.
Both club and country need Jack Wilshere to get back to his best. His skill-set is so unique and valued that he could have a transformative effect on both. Just look at him in Europe this campaign.
The Europa League has given him a new lease of life this season. Operating as the chief playmaker in a young and vibrant Arsenal side playing against sub-par opponents, Wilshere has been resplendent.
If the Europa League has acted as an extended pre-season, now his 2017/18 really begins with the brutal Premier League winter. A flurry of games that come quick and fast, with little rest for the muscles or the mind.
Obviously Arsene Wenger isn’t going to throw him into playing every single week. But Wilshere could definitely help Arsenal succeed by playing every other game, once a week.
When Wilshere plays, Arsenal have a focal point to build their attacks around. A playmaker who both demands the ball and yet is so generous when it’s at his feet, feeding in his wide players, involving his striker – looking to create wonder.
But as much as Arsenal need Wilshere, Wilshere also needs Arsenal. This is his last chance to prove he can still do it at the top level and/or make it to a World Cup.
Wilshere’s contract expires at the end of the season, and with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez likely to leave too, it’s clear there will be large-scale investment at Arsenal this summer. That investment will push Wilshere out of thought as the new players won’t be as cold and disinterested as Ozil and Sanchez.
If Wilshere fails to make it happen this winter, keeping up his great form so far this season, he will likely leave Arsenal in the summer. Sure, there’ll be the Europa League knockout stages; but if he’s spent the winter months playing poorly or injured then all his good work through the Autumn will be lost and he won’t be able to play as well as he can to secure his future. And as summer 2016 showed, there is very little interest in signing Jack Wilshere at the top level of European football.
So unless he wants to become a big fish in a small pond somewhere in the Premier League, this is going to be the most important couple of months of Jack Wilshere’s career so far.
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