Jack Wilshere is a very rare breed in England. Technically astute, but with the type of ‘Gung-ho’ attitude English football fans love. Ever since he announced his arrival on the big stage against Barcelona back in 2011 – outplaying Xavi and Iniesta in midfield – he has been touted as an England captain in waiting.
The future was looking so bright for the young boy from Hertfordshire, he shone bright in his debut gunners season; the 2010/11 campaign in which the club challenged on all 4 fronts until one fateful week in which they were knocked out of the champions league by Barcelona, beaten in the Carling Cup final by a Birmingham side that were later relegated, and suffered a dip in form that also see them out of the FA cup and the Premier League title race. Although Arsenal’s challenge for major honours wained, the then 18 year old’s performances didn’t.
Wilshere has been spoken about in high regard since the 09/10 season. He didn’t manage to get on the field much due to the talent saturation in Arsenals engine room, but did get loaned out to Bolton Wanderers in January. He impressed in his performances notching a goal against boyhood club West Ham and more than holding his own against some of the worlds best players. His pleasing showings earned him an England call up that translated to a 7 minute cameo against Hungary.
A string of impressive performances throughout the next season earned him his first start for the national side, playing a Denmark team that featured Tottenham’s £11million new man Cristian Eriksen. Despite playing in an unfamiliar deep-lying role he had a solid performance, displaying a level of discipline some thought he lacked.
The 2010/11 season was a great one for Wilshere, performing to the highest level at such a tender age, out shining the star-studded Barcelona midfield in the home leg of his clubs champions league tie, marking his performances with an England start and being praised from every corner.
Wilshere continued his great form into the 2011/12 preseason which culminated with Arsenals annual season curtain raiser; The Emirates Cup. It was in this competition that Wilshere suffered the first in a string of injuries that would keep him out for 14 months. A stress fracture to his right ankle, suffered against Arsenal hero, Thierry Henry’s, New York Red Bulls side.
It was initially thought that the young Englishman’s injury was just minor, and that he’d be returning in a matter of weeks. It turns out that a string on injuries and setbacks robbed the young midfielder of a year of his career. When news did break about the fracture to Wilshere’s ankle it still wasn’t expected to keep him out for so long, experts predicted he would return in late January/early February but a reoccurrence of the injury happened when he returned to first team training in February. Arsenal fans held onto optimism that Wilshere would return for them that season, in a hope he would plug the Cesc Fabregas shaped gap in the teams midfield. It wasn’t just them left disappointed as the seasons end drew closer and closer, with the realisation that Wilshere would miss England’s Euro 2012 campaign, and wouldn’t get the chance to link up with Team GB for their home Olympics, British football fans were left cursing his luck.
The 2012/13 season approached and Wilshere still wasn’t fit. The Gunners’ fans misery was compounded by last seasons star performer; Robin Van Persie, jumping ship to Manchester United. There was one shining light though. Arsene Wenger handed the former captains number 10 to the young Englishman, a sign he was on the way back to the first team.
Return
Having not had any first team action in over a year Wilshere was handed a starting berth against QPR on October 27th 2012. He was subbed of after 67 minutes and seemed to suffer no ill effects. He remained injury free for the remainder of the season, being used sparingly in the latter stages of the campaign to preserve his health. When the season ended it was revealed that he required minor surgery on his previously injured ankle to remove some screws etc inserted when he suffered his initial fracture, but that he would be back for the start of preseason training.
He was indeed, and has remained in the side since then. He had been rested occasionally this season with Wenger taking a more cautious approach and the return to form of Aaron Ramsey lightening the load. But one question remains: is he back to his best? The short answer to that is no.
Everyone knows what Wilshere is capable of. He can dictate a games pace with his passing, he can grab a game by the scruff of the neck with his ability to beat a player, absorb a challenge and offload the ball. But, he doesn’t seem to be fully fit still. He’s not running around commuting to challenges with the same freedom, everyone holds their breath when he’s caught late with a challenge – fearful that he’ll be back on the treatment table.
I personally believe Wilshere is only weeks away from his best form, that’s only in Wenger stops being overly cautious and gives him a run of games. The impact Wilshere could have on Arsenals season Is tremendous, he has the kind of heart previous reds’ sides have lacked. He has the ability to play multiple positions, and, do it better than many of the specialists.
My view on Wilshere is that he will return to his best very soon. He has an extremely talented midfield group to compete with but when he’s at his bet there is no way you cannot pick him. He brings a level of physicality that Santi Cazorla doesn’t, he brings a true love for the club that not many else have, he has the ability to do anything on the field and is the next Arsenal captain. I love Jack Wilshere as a player, when he’s in full flow running a game it’s a thing to behold. The list of superlatives that go with Jack Wilshere is never ending, and he is yet to fulfil his true potential.
The mix of love for his club, and ability to perform is comparable to Bastian Schweinsteiger, and if the young lad can go on to have half the career the German has, he will go down as an Arsenal and England legend.
