Theo Walcott has sung the praises of Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere after his midweek display against Red Star Belgrade, but do the club need him more than they know?
The midfielder has been a huge talking point in recent weeks, with many tipping him to earn a recall to the England international fold for the upcoming World Cup in Russia, and others urging him to be fast-tracked back into the Arsenal first-team also.
Arsene Wenger appears reluctant to rush him back however, and you could hardly argue with that decision given the number of setbacks the 26 year-old has had in his career, although the intentions have been made clear to include him when possible.
Theo Walcott has now insisted that any team with Wilshere in will be a strong one, and giving him a free role on Thursday helped his side against Red Star.
“It was a hell of a move, simple as that,” he said. “I managed to play a lucky little one-two with Jack, obviously headed it for Oli and then he’s doing the unusual [to score].
“I don’t really remember it too much, I just remember Oli’s finish – it was that good. But it was good build-up playand I’m very pleased with the assist as well.
“When you’ve got Jack Wilshere fit, and Jack Wilshere in your team, you’re always going to be strong. He’s playing sort of anywhere really, he had a feel role more in the second half that the manager gave him, which probably played a bit more into our hands.
“The first half was quite difficult,” Walcott added. “We had to sort of ease ourselves into the game, trying to adapt to the conditions and in the second half we managed to get hold of it a bit better, countered a lot better. We just had to dig in and we did.”
Wilshere has been impressive since returning from injury this term, and I agree that Wenger must take his time in bringing him back into the fold, but does his character give our team something strongly lacking in his absence? Is Jack the fighter/leader that our team has been lacking in recent years?
Pat J
Wilshere still has to prove whether he is consistent enough to pull off creative movements like his one-two with Walcott and Giroud. His turn started that great movement, which proved that he could be very creative and skillful, if he has the guts to do it more often in very tight spaces.
He would benefit a lot if he keeps playing with players with great close ball control and vision like Sanchez and Cazorla. If he is not injured again, Arsenal would have a very committed and spirited attacking midfielder and playmaker, which would be a very good asset.
When/if wilshere gets a couple of full seasons under his belt and fulfils even 3/4th of his potential he will be off. So lets hope that he does not and that way he can remain at arsenal for life. He can be like our mark noble/walters/troy deeney/. Knows he cant consistently cut it at a top club so he prefers to play at an okay club, be captain and become a club legend..
I thought troy deeney said he has 4 balls?
He ain’t got any ?
I knew Giroud’s goal was a fluke the moment I saw the replay. Here’s a man who baloons efforts high above the crossbar from 6 yards out, while facing the goal. On this occasion he had his back to goal, the ball came straight at him so he had to act quickly, on top of that the ball bounced no higher than three feet, if that. He himself is about 6-3, for the life of me I don’t know how he managed to both keep that ball under the bar, and get any power on it, never mind sufficient power, as well as the accuracy. He certainly has a bit of a collection all the same, considering his size and his style of play, it’s almost ironic or something looking at the best of his collectors items.
Giroud is like an arsenal level club equivalent of james rodriguez. Scores only spectacular goals with moments of brilliance such as fancy flicks.
People, Giroud himself said it was a lucky goal, I liked his honesty. Other players might trip over their ass and they’d say it was intentional. I like that Giroud is honest but tough.
Lol this one may be lucky but giroud has a collections of superb goals at arsenal, for the big lumbering forward, he has remarkable ball skills, shame he didnt have more pace else he would be world class. You cant score that many beautiful goals by being lucky.
Huddersfield ?
OMG!
In the future people will be shocked when arsenal lead by 2 against teams like utd lol
Not sure whether to laugh or cry at that comment ?
Wilshere can be our talisman
seems citeh and chelski will decide this years title – the remainder will try to deny us a CL spot. im trying to gauge whether losing to watford or huddersfield is worse; i think we all know the answer.
Same Chelski who lost to C Palace last week?
City are already champions. Spurs will pip second. Chelski probably third. We will be fighting for 4th although I reckon we will fail to win the Wenger trophy again.
I doubt we will be anywhere near fourth place come the last few games
…we’ve a little time yet before we throw in the towel. hate to say it but …winter window maybe we can be responsible for once?
@McLovin – i hear you they’re prone to make mistakes, however on form the league does not lie, they’re still champions – and their owner is a spender, right?
…could well be…
Just because Chelsea beat Watford?? It’s city’s to lose
OT: Watching UTD getting their **** handed to them just makes my blood boil.
We had the opportunity last week to be in the fight, but typical Arsenal we bottled it.
But if that was Arsenal, we’ll be crowing like cockerels about Wenger and the players, Ed Woodward will not allow his best players run down their contracts, back Mourinho in the market like a lunatic, Gazidis is the opposite but then I hear deafening silence when Mourinho lose an away game against lower opposition. Mr. Cojones suddenly has no more left.
wilshire is better than Xhaka all day
He doesn’t pick his nose while the opposition score
I think he should be in our 11 start, if he gets injured he will in any game, he already came in few times, showed great signs, he just need to be wiser and humble as he seems to has become after his one year spell, he is not going to get injured more than anyone if he is not running wild or i should say, watching his runs and distance on opponents, always banging or too close, keeping ball to long, allowing contact. Bit too hyped up. I like the Jack of this season, shows why he was rated so high; now make sure to not lose him for free because the way he is going, he will lead us to CL football and help lead national team far in world cup…