A local boy schooled in the small town of Hitchin, Jack Wilshere has been part of the Arsenal furniture since October 2001. That’s a 14-year association with a club, a length of stay in the Premier League not often seen. Not since the likes of like Paul Scholes has an English midfield talent grown and stayed at one club.
Jack Wilshere’s defining game for many, was that game against Barcelona in 2011. In the lead-up, Pep Guardiola had defiantly declared that the Catalan giants had “many players in the second team like him”. In reply, Wilshere produced a majestic display that catapulted him in the English media spotlight as a generation-defining talent which future England sides could be built around. In that one game, Wilshere showcased his entire range of talents, from tackling, close-quarters control and his passing range.
So, if he had such an explosive game against arguably one of the greatest club sides ever at such a young age, what has happened since? Unfortunately – since that game in 2011 – Jack Wilshere has shown flashes of the talent which has left many Arsenal fans wondering why they don’t have a great English player on their books as was once heralded? Why do the fans feel they have a player that seems to unfortunately be following the Tomas Rosicky career path? Infuriatingly inconsistent fitness levels, average displays and a non-emergence of an in-game leader that some had originally hoped?
The main issue, is that it doesn’t look like Arsene Wenger, Roy Hodgson or Wilshere himself knows where his best position is. Is it deeper, in a regista-style position which the England boss has decided upon? Many think Jack lacks the defensive and deeper ball retention capabilities of Francis Coquelin or Santi Cazorla. Unfortunately, you can’t push Jack forward because now he’s encroaching upon Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey’s territory.
Wilshere, due to injuries and lack of a full season – hasn’t been able to find a niche for himself in the Arsenal team and been allowed to grow into it, he’s been overtaken by Ramsey and Coquelin in terms of development. The England international has been played deeper, centrally, more advanced and even out wide in order to “increase the player’s appreciation of space”. All the while, Arsenal have suffered as a result, forced to find a slot in a team just doesn’t need a Wilshere to succeed in their aim of challenging for a title.
At 23, Jack Wilshere is entering the period of his career that Wenger defines as crucial in a player’s development. He should have left behind all the problems brought with a young body & mind and be now establishing himself and playing regularly. With 155 appearances for Arsenal in total, having been in the first team squad for a number of years– his career statistics make for awkward reading. They currently stand at 11 goals and 16 assists throughout his career.
These statistics are damning, and provide substance to the wall of text above. Offensively he’s underperformed, defensively he’s quite average. He’s picked up more yellow cards combined in his career than goals & assists. Some claim that “he’s the pass before the assist” in the mold of Luka Modric – but if so why has he averaged 1.4 key passes per game throughout his career? In fact, his highest number is 1.9 dribbles attempted per game – and any Arsenal fan will tell you how that usually ends. Jack running forward with the ball until he literally runs into an opponent and is either fouled or gives the ball away cheaply.
In a year that Arsenal fans sadly, but expectedly saw Abou Diaby leave, after the club has done everything to salvage an injury-ravaged career. As much as England fans would like to see Jack Wilshere succeed at Arsenal, many currently don’t think he ever will.
