Granit Xhaka has urged Arsenal to retain the services of midfielder Jack Wilshere beyond the summer.
The 26 year-old is into the final months of his playing contract with the North London club, and do not currently appear to be close to signing a new deal at present.
Reports move to claim that an offer of an extension has been made, albeit with a reduced weekly wage and encouraging appearance fee due to the club’s reluctance to be stuck paying for Jack’s recurring injury problems, and you can understand why the player himself would be reluctant to accept.
Despite the ongoing negotiations, Wilshere has reiterated his desire to stay at the club, and the manager has even talked of him being a future club captain, yet the contract still seems distant…
Granit Xhaka has now stated his desire to continue to play alongside his team-mate, adding that it brings balance to the Arsenal midfield.
“When I play with those two, I’m a bit deeper, basically just in front of the defence,” Xhaka told Arsenal’s match-day programme.
“Jack and Aaron like to go forward, to get into the box, whereas I’m happy to stay back and build the play from a deeper area. But we all have our qualities and always try to help each other out.
“I’ve always said that to be successful, you need all 11 players, plus those on the bench and those in the squad.
“You can’t just win a game because two or three players have a good game. You have to work together as a unit, both in defence and in attack.
“I think we’ve become stronger defensively because we’re all really focusing on what we need to do.
“Everyone knows that we have a lot of quality going forward, but at the moment I think we’ve got that balance and we need to keep that.”
Can we afford to let Wilshere leave? Do the club really undervalue him?
Pat J
Jack I believe has made up his mind and is off.Im in two minds over this.We need a CDM as a priority and we WILL sign one this summer that’s for sure.The Ramsey issue is also key here.We don’t really need to lose both players but if Ramsey’s demands are too much then he must go as well.
The issue with Ramsey is we have again dithered over his contract putting him in the driving seat.Jacks offer was obviously related to his injury problems.
Really not sure what will happen.
Agree, there are many more hardworking, younger and skillful central midfielders available to replace both Wilshere and Ramsey
Arsenal need CMs that can apply relentless pressures to their opponents and control the tempo throughout the match
Until recently I was also in two minds about Jack leaving, as he was/is almost alone in the current squad in having real guts, a true love for the club and the will to compete properly. But I have, albeit narrowly, come down on the “it is better he leaves” side of the fence. At 26, with his entire career so far being injury prone, it is unrealistic to expect that to radically change for the better. The larger tragedy for the club is that , thanks to Wengers legendary mishandling of contracts, we will get no fee for him. But I look forward, not back and VERY SOON now our enemy, Wenger, will be ancient history at Arsenal and the long overdue cure can begin.
yup. we’ve had countless opportunities to offload wilshere over the years. Even when he was eternally injured he had a high pricetag. Got exposed when he went on loan to Bournemouth, now is worthless even if he did have 1-2 years left. Letting him go for free stinks, but Arsenal need a huge revamp and if he can’t take a lower pay then thats just too bad.
Just get rid. All this talk about a squad player. We should be improving our midfield anyways and Jack is not one of the current midfielders I would overpay to keep. Anyways, Burnley two points behind us now… Let’s at least finish above them?
Wilshere is not as visionary and effective defensively as Busquets in the deeper midfield area. He is also not as skillful and creative as Iniesta, Coutinho or De Bruyne in more advanced midfield positions
Wilshere is a good player, but Arsenal need a better midfielder. He can look for better salary from another club like Sanchez or better career offer like Chamberlain, but he will not get Ozil’s salary at Arsenal
Losing him will not be a big blow, because Arsenal have got too many players that like to hog the ball in the center, such as Xhaka, Ozil, Ramsey, Elneny, Iwobi, Mkhitaryan, Willock, etc. If he leaves, Arsenal could allocate his salary for a new CD, DM, winger or CM
Make him a offer. If he declines then he declines. So long, farewell, auf weidersehen, goodbye.?✌✋ Thanks for the memories.
If he accepts. Awesome. He is a good squad player when healthy.???
Regardless if he stays or goes Get a Top CM in the summer as a ?PRIORITY.? We will not win the PL with CM we have now. Ideally
A Cazorla type player and a central defensive midfielder.
After we get rid of Wenger??
If we get rid of Wenger and get two top CB and two to midfielders, i will be happy ?☺????
I don’t care about this – I’m pretty sure his performances of late was a ruse to get another more lucrative contract.
Says a lot about the man that he has basically sat on his backside for years, taking the money but when Arsenal need him he is making demands.
Let him go and be injured elsewhere.
Simply no loyalty anymore just bang average people looking out for themselves…
Adios Jack….
And don’t you come back no more no more no more…
Walcott and Ozil did that to get bigger salary from Arsenal, and they were successful. I prefer Wilshere than both of them
Wilshere deserves an extension as a good squad player and a spirited Gunner, but he should not expect a salary increase because he often gets injured
And seventeen years ago we lost David “Rocky” Rocastle way way to early.
There was an Arsenal player loved the club.
RIP Rocky…
?
Sublime talent, sorely missed.
What we could do now with 11players with the drive passion and commitment Rocky brought the every game.Very underrated player outside of this Club but Loved by all Gooners and his teammates.Very sorely missed as a player and a man
I believe Jack WILL be off , though would have chosen to stay had he not been “Insulted” with a reduced wage. The “insult” is how HE sees it, not necessaraily the same as an actual insult. The fact is he is long term injury prone and at 26 is not likely now to ever change this weakness. I am, though sad about it, content that he leaves, because, frankly, there are better AND FITTER players out there to buy. The real INSULT was that Wenger so mis-managed the situation that we will end up getting no transfer fee for him. But I look forward and Wenger will VERY SOON now be history and the new man cannot work miracles with the dross Wenger has left behind, I say dross, more in attitude, than in ACTUAL lack of talent. We DO have many talented players BUT I doubt the fainthearted ones among those talented players will ever change, even under a proper and demanding manager. Much will depend on how quickly the new man can replace the large majority of Wengers coddled coasters with PROPER MEN!
Get Julian Nagelsmann he is the answer!!!!!
jack is no longer an important player of the squad.if he decides to go let him go,we support the badge not individuals