You can find part 2 of this Lockdown episode on Arsenal.com. In this part Jack Wilshere focuses more on the injury issues he’s never quite recovered from and how it led to his Arsenal exit.
Here are 10 Things We Learnt In Lockdown With Jack Wilshere (Part 2)
England Let Him Down
Jack Wilshere suffered what he thought was a ‘slight knock’ against Switzerland in a man of the match display. England ‘s medical team equally didn’t take the injury seriously, allowing him to spend an entire summer/pre-season with an ankle that would eventually require surgery.
He Thought He Would Be Out Injured For 2 Weeks
The midfielder claims Arsenal’s medical team, including those still at the club were brilliant in trying to help him regain fitness. Maybe though someone could have given him a heads up? He started with his foot in a cast, thinking his injury would be cured within a fortnight. A month later screws were being fixed into his ankle and he would miss the majority of that season. In truth he’s been plagued by the problem ever since.
That Norwich Goal
Our team goal against Norwich won most goal of the seasons polls for 2013-14. Yet it didn’t surprise the scorer himself. Wilshere says that reflected how Arsenal Wenger coached his players to play. In training they would do a drill where three players had to thread the ball around without touching 50 mannequins.
Winning The Cup
Jack Wilshere explained what made ending our trophy drought so special was many of the squad who lost in our last Wembley Final were still around. Ironically, he was best friends and lived with Szeschny who apparently took the loss to Birmingham hard. The two would sit at home while playing PlayStation as teenagers discussing the dream of one day winning trophies with Arsenal. You can never take that moment away from him.
Arsenal and England Couldn’t Agree
Jack Wilshere would play on the right side or in a midfield of 2. Long term though the plan was for him to be in the number 10 role. For England though Roy Hodgson would utilise him in the holding role where he could pick out passes. The only problem being Mr Wenger completed disagreed with that assessment meaning Super Jack was in a unique situation of playing two different positions at the Emirates compared to when on international duty
Mr Wenger Called His Bluff
Upset over how much football he missed Jack Wilshere was frustrated that he was starting the 2016 campaign only coming off the bench. One day he sat with Arsene Wenger and suggested it be best if he go on loan, thinking his manager would assure him of more minutes. He was heartbroken when his coach agreed, realising he needed to prove, not just his talent, but that his body was strong enough. On reflection he says this shows how selfless the Frenchman was. He could have prioritised the squad but knew this was the best thing for the players development.
Wenger Told Wilshere He Could Leave
Despite 33 games for Bournemouth, Arsenal were not willing to offer Wilshere a new contract based on his injury record. Arsenal Wenger sat on an exercise bike next to him and said he understood if the midfielder wanted to now find a new club. Instead the Englishman backed himself. He observed the competition in midfield and believed he could force his way into the starting eleven. He was correct …
He Was Offered A New Deal
Despite Jack not being happy with the original offer, Mr Wenger convinced the board to make a deal both parties would agree on. From February 2018 Wilshere believed he had earned a new contract with it just needing signed. That was until his manager announced he was leaving that summer.
Left Because Of Emery
Essentially if Mr Wenger were still around Jack Wilshere would have extended his contract.
With his new deal built on incentives and on how often he played, it made little sense to work with a coach who might not rate you (he knew Arsene did). So, he was advised to wait and see who would be in charge of Arsenal. One of the first things Unai Emery did was to tell the midfielder he wouldn’t be in his plans
He Wants To Come Back
He said he spent too long at Arsenal to not always see himself as an ‘Arsenal Man’. In fact, his dream was to be a one club man. Based on him starting his coaching badges (working with kids mostly) the interviewer asked does he see himself returning as a coach, to which the player answers, ‘I like to think I’ll return one day …in some capacity’.
Dan Smith
SUDDENLY THIS SPATE OF WILSHERE ARTICLES? Anyone know why? One or two I could understand but suddenly he seems to have replaced the at least still present OZIL, as this sites obsession. We even had something on the much and rightly derided Bendtner yesterday Again why????
I fear for this site as it is really digging up the dregs for reasons to write about now. Rather like cookery and garden TV progs, you get one or two good ones and suddenly there is almost nothing else BUT THEM on telly. PLEASE don’t go still further down this tedious route!!!
If people are going to write about past players, either make them educational, as Ken does with his forgotten heroes series, or write about greats and influential to our club players of the recent, medium or distant past but NOT failed one time big hopes like Wilshere. At least not SO DARNED OFTEN! Next we will be told what he has for breakfast! YUK!
I am not blaming DAN though, as this article is at least well put together but variety is the spice of life, esp at this boring for many time we are in.
I just write on whoever is on the podcast Monday and Thursday
Arsenal chose to release it in two parts
Sorry lol
NOT YOUR ARTICLE DAN,AS I SAID, BUT THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHERS TOO.
One of the interesting parts of the article Dan, was when Wilshere talked about his contract..
It was based on incentives and this is something I have been saying for ages, regarding ALL contracts – we have no idea what makes up any players agreed contract, so to keep quoting a figure of £350,000 or £200,000 a week is nonsense.
I would go as far as saying appearances come under that umbrella and that means players must have a basic “retaining clause”.
The injury situation is so much like the disaster story surrounding Cazorla – two players who could still be playing for us if the treatment received was correct.
Jon, the interview was split, simply because of the length of the article itself.
I wonder why our ex players all have the same feelinfs about the club as we do?
Apart from Peter Simpson, every player I have researched speaks highly of what The Arsenal stands for.
Ken, Stands for? OR once stood? Arsenal does still stand for much good, I can agree but there is much in ALL modern top level football that is disgraceful and our club are no exception.
The remoteness of players from fans for instance. A MANAGER WHO WAS A TRUE LEADER WOULD IMPOSE RESTRICTIONS ON PLAYERS WEARING EARPHONES WHEN LEAVING THE COACH TO ENTER AND ALSO EXIT GROUNDS WHILE ADORING FANS ARE AROUND. It sets a very bad tone, separating players from fans and giving little thought to the vital importance of retaining the nartural fan adoration of players. I have , being a worldly wise old “cynic”( I prefer “realist”), long found this headphone habit to be superior in tone and disrespectful to fans.
But then I suppose, being a theatre man, I am the total opposite of that and so are the real people in theatre with people skills in abundance. But those folk are not disgustingly overpaid, as Prem players are ,so are aware of their duty to treat fans with respect and with courtesy.
MANY PLAYERS ARE LITTLE MORE THAN BOORISH OAFS, NOT ALL BUT A SIGNIFICANT PERCENT. Arsenal does little to change this, IMO and could and SHOULD do far more. This is the lifeblood of the game, being at best tolerated and at worst disrespected, a clear sign of the lack of joined up thinking among the decision makers. I realise many players visit hospitals etc and are excellent people, but a number are totally self centred and it harms the game immensely.
We should not be starry eyed and ignore the fact that this has vastly changed for the worse over the last few decades.