Arsenal boss conflicted by his decision to let Wilshere leave

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he regrets the decision to allow Jack Wilshere to leave on loan, but admitted he may not have been ready to play had he stayed.

The midfielder joined Bournemouth on a season-long loan back on deadline day last August, and has proved his fitness and form since making the move.

Wilshere has played more than 1100 league match minutes this term for the Cherries, more than he has had since the beginning of the 14/15 season for our club, and finally looks like he may have turned a corner where his fitness is concerned.

Of course we cannot be certain that he would have been able to build his strength up had he stayed in North-London this term, and Wenger is under no illusion that his temporary move has helped him, but cant help thinking he could have done with him available for Arsenal right now.

He said: “Yes, I could use him now.

“But if he had not played until now, he would not be ready to play now. What looks unfair at some moments in the season is that you know at some stage you could need the player.

“But even at the start you need to have the right balance between competition and numbers and chances for the player to play. And still today I think it was the right decision for him to go.”

His words should be deemed positive for Wilshere, who will be happy to hear that he would have been needed, and may well be able to return to Arsenal in the coming summer and play a part for next season.

Santi Cazorla is yet to be offered a new contract, with his current one expiring come the end of the summer, and the former youth product may well come in and take his first-team role for the new campaign.

Would Jack have been key in the absence of Santi this term? Will Wilshere come back next season to take over from Cazorla?

Pat J

10 Comments

  1. In hindsight of course letting Jack Wilshere go out on loan was a mistake (and it’s sods law that he has remained fit since on loan) but for me the bigger mistake was not to insert a recall proviso in the loan agreement. That was negligent.

    1. Bournmouth have looked after jack, introducing him slowly to the team, being willing to substitute him etc. It is part of the deal that he stays a whole season, and so far they seem to have done a much better job of getting him fit than arsenal have.

    2. Have you read the loan agreement? How do you know there is no recall provision?

      I like Wilshire and it is good to see the potential confirmation that our injury problems are self made. It will be interesting to see if Wilhsire comes back next season if the injury problems return.

      1. It stands to reason that if Arsene Wenger said that he could do with Wilshere’s services, he regrets letting him go out on loan and he hasn’t recalled him when he needs him the most then he does not have any provision to get him back. I think that is a reasonable assumption to make?

  2. Bournemouth are a good manager of wilshere……… Unless wenger is willing and ready to manage his players appropriately, those on loan should remain there for the time being ….
    .
    I mean this is possibly a clear proof of wenger’s bad managerial duties of partially unfit players…

    1. I think that Arsenal/Wenger sometimes gets unjustly blamed for the injury situation at the club. Don’t get me wrong, I recognise that we have possibly one of the worst injury records since the the premier league began but many of these injuries occur in the full glare of public view i.e. during a match. To my mind, you can’t blame our club when another player is late in a challenge that results in an injury to our player.

      On the one hand, I applaud players that go in manfully for 50/50 challenges and despise those that wimp out however there are those, like Jack Wilshere, who habitually get caught and as a result are injured. Why this happens to Arsenal players more than most I have no idea, but is harsh to blame Arsenal for injuries that are inflicted upon us.

  3. I reckon player fitness has something to do with
    -Style of pLay
    -Training methods
    -Minutes per game/playing time
    -Medical approach
    .
    And i can’t say Arsenal got these all right!

  4. Off topic
    I think we one hu will win De league will be De team with De strongest midfield pairing
    I can’t help but admire dembele n wanyama.
    I wish we had such a partnership ?

  5. All it proves is what I thought all along. Jack is a mid table team player. Not cut out for the rigors of top level team play…Plain and simple.

    1. player is playing well for a lower club… obviously can’t perform for a top club
      Flawless logic mate!

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