There has been a lot of talk about whether Arsenal should start playing Jack Wilshere in the deep lying holding midfield role that he has started to occupy and do very well at for England. But it seems clear that Arsene Wenger is not so keen and he definitely won’t do it for the first time in a game of the magnitude of Saturday’s clash with Man United.
However I still think that the England international midfielder should start the game ahead of his Welsh counterpart Aaron Ramsey. For one thing, purely on form at the moment, Jack is the better player. Ramsey has not quite got up to his top level yet, partly due to his injury, while Jack has been busy all season improving and proving his critics wrong.
Wilshere is also coming off a great international break, with two wins, two Man of the Match awards and his first England assist under his belt. Ans although he will not be playing the same role, he is learning more discipline and defensive duties which will help him against United.
Mikel Arteta is fit again and I expect the Spaniard to start, but he will need help against the likes of Rooney, Di Maria and Fellaini and I think Wilshere is now in a better position to offer it. And then he can really get things going as Arsenal go on the attack. With the ponderous Carrick likely to be in front of United’s shaky defence, Wilshere’s skills could be the key to unlocking their back line and he even has the long pinpoint ball now for the likes of the pacy Alexis and Welbeck to latch on to and get behind United.
Maybe against the defensively stronger and high pressing Borussia Dortmund the following Wednesday, Ramsey will be the man we need, but I think Wilshere is the man for United. Do you agree?