The Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has finally made his first appearance for the Arsenal senior side this season and is likely to see more action in the home game against Norwich City today. His fitness if Arsene Wenger was to want to play Wilshere from the start either should not be a concern as the player completed a couple of full games for the under 21 side first and the medical team were very careful with his recovery process.
The goal for the 24-year old now, as well as helping Arsenal to finish this campaign as strongly as possible and secure a place at Europe’s top table next time, is to get match sharp and find some form ahead of Euro 2016, a tournament that Wilshere played a big part in getting England to, with Man of the Match awards in six out of the seven qualifying games he played.
As an England fan I am glad that Jack is back in the frame but as an Arsenal fan I cannot help but fear for him and for our ability to get much use of him next season. Wilshere himself has been talking about his injury record and although there is good news in that his problems have not been muscular or anything to do with his own physical issues, he admitted that his style of play is partly responsible and what’s more there is nothing he can do or is willing to do to change it.
He told Arsenal Player, “I don’t think there is anything I can do differently. All my injuries have been impact injuries and I have been a little bit unfortunate at times when I have maybe overrun the ball a little bit, so maybe I can work on dribbling with the ball closer to my foot.
“I’m not one of those players who is blessed with Theo’s pace who can run behind you. When I’m on the ball, I have to get close to [the defender], which is going to cause him to attempt to tackle me or mistime it as we have seen in the past. That is part of my game.
“When I was injured, I read a few things and I was thinking maybe they were right. Maybe I should pass it a little bit more or a little bit quicker, but as soon as I get back on the ball and there is an opportunity for me to run at someone, that is what I want to do. I don’t think I can change.
“I have just got to train every day. I have never really had injuries with my muscles, or any problems like that. It is just impact injuries. Hopefully I can avoid them.”
Hope is it? A bit like Wenger saying that the squad is good enough and there is no point spending money on transfers and then hoping that the same old problems do not happen again. Is doing the same thing over and over and hoping for different results now the Arsenal way? And is Wilshere’s revelation a signal that Arsenal need to get rid of him while he is still fit?
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