Arsene Wenger has managed Jack Wilshere’s recovery from his injury hell quietly and patiently. The year he was on loan at Bournemouth not only gave Jack regular football, but he has also learned more in a different training regime to help improve his game. He returned to Arsenal at the end of last season with a hairline fracture, and yet again Wenger gave him loads of time to recover and only used him sparingly in Europa League and League Cup games to help him regain his sharpness, and now Jack feels that he has now got back to his best, but a bit more mature in his attitude.
“I think I’m close to my best.” Jack said. “I think I have been getting better and better each game,”
“I learned a lot last year about the defensive side of the game because when you play for a team like Bournemouth you don’t always have the ball and you need to be switched on defensively.
“I feel like that has really benefited me and I’m a better player for it.
“I feel a lot more sure defensively and confident that if I’m going into a challenge that I’m going to win the ball.
“I’m happy and hopefully it can continue.”
Wenger’s biggest worry was that Wilshere’s body couldn’t take an intense run of games, but when Aaron Ramsey was inevitably injured, Jack was given three games in the space of a week and was still impressive in all three. He has proved himself and should now start every game even when Ramsey returns to the side. Maybe Wenger could try playing both of them together and drop Xhaka down to the bench?
Sam P