Jack Wilshere is a player who’s been unavailable due to an overwhelming number of injuries. In fact, the homegrown star has missed an entire season with an ankle problem, and was out for most of Arsenal’s last campaign after a shocking challenge from Paddy McNair that put him on the sidelines, awaiting treatment.
Despite that, Wilshere returned late in the season and managed to score a marvelous goal against West Brom, came on in the FA Cup final, and showed signs of improvement and impressing everyone around.
The Englishman has given insight into his and Arsenal’s training and fitness rituals.
Speaking to Men’s Fitness, Wilshere discussed how important core strength is and how physiotherapists emphasize balance.
“When I first got injured my core strength was terrible,” he said. “I was 18, playing three times a week and didn’t really do any gym work.
“All of a sudden when you’re injured you realise everything revolves around your core. It’s crucial for balance and absorbing impact. The first thing my physios got me to work on was my balance.
“I had to stand on one leg and close my eyes. I couldn’t do it.”
The 23-year-old labeled the requirements for Premier League football as “absurd” and talked about how his fitness training has evolved over the years.
“The intensity of the Premier League is incredible,” he continued. “The levels of fitness you have to reach just to survive in it is absurd.
“When you’re out for a few months it’s tough to come back. It takes a lot of work in the gym with the physios, the specialists, you’re willing to try anything that will help you get fit.
“We get weighed every week,” Wilshere said. “We get regular DEXA scans to check our muscle mass and body fat levels. There’s no hiding place.”
Wilshere, who weighs 76kg and has 7.8% body fat, also explored how the Gunners’ training regimes have changed over the years. The England international commends the new ways of training and is fond of them.
“Training used to be long, hard double sessions for the whole team … now it’s more positional-based. Midfielders do one drill, defenders and attackers another. Training is more intelligent.”
