I am so glad for the Arsenal and England international star Jack Wilshere that his season ended on a high note, forgetting about the storm in a teacup that is the FA charge after his taunting of the spuds. By and large, however, it was another season of frustration due to injury for the talented midfielder, especially after he was showing signs of real form before the rash tackle from Man United defender Paddy McNair.
If Arsene Wenger had not given the 23-year old that rare start in the last Premier League game of the season, not only would Arsenal fans have missed out on the goal of the season against West Brom, Wilshere may have missed out on the FA cup final and the media would surely have got on his back again for being injury prone and for not realising his potential.
As it is, Jack can look forward to a couple of England games before a nice relaxing summer and then we are back to the business of trying to win the Premier League.
While I think that staying injury free is the most important thing for Wilshere’s football progress, I reckon that his admission in a Metro report that he admires and looks up to his team mate Mesut Ozil could also provide the answer.
Wilshere said, “Ozil has had a great season, he’s settled, and Alexis having a first season like he’s had is unheard of. We are looking forward to next season.
“Mesut’s a player I look up to. When he’s on the pitch, surrounded by players and under pressure, he’s always got his head up and looking around.
“There’s more to come from Mesut and I’m sure he’ll improve next season.”
If Wilshere can take a leaf out of his colleague’s book, in the way that Ozil always seems to find time on the ball and releases it before a tackle comes in, it could prove invaluable to the Englishman. Many have suggested that his style of play and close control is part of the reason for his injury problems. We do not want him to change that dynamic style but if he could tweak it and add a bit of Ozil’s finesse, who knows how much impact he could have for the Gunners next year and in the future?