Wilshere should fight for his Arsenal place – not take the easy way out

Has Jack got the wrong attitude? by Dan Smith

In our hearts we all want Jack Wilshere to stay. A Gooner as a child, with us since the age of 7, he can genuinely say he loves the club. Going by his recent posts of social media though it seems he has made up his mind to move on. It’s been a while since he was made an offer, one that would see his salary cut but more incentive based. Our board seem to feel wary of paying over the odds for someone so injury prone, despite in the last year him proving his fitness.

Originally I saw this as Stan Kroenke yet again putting business ahead of ambition. Yet recent reports have suggested the player has now sat down with his new manager and the conclusion is this decision is not based on money but assurances of playing time.

Given how long he has spent on the sidelines I can understand any professional wanting to make up for lost time. The fact is though for anyone to want any guarantees after finishing 6th, many points off the top 4 yet alone Man City, is worrying. After last season no one should not be sweating for their place.

Perhaps it’s an example of how comfortable the squad became under Arsene Wenger that Wilshere had the nerve to not expect to have to fight to keep his spot. While he was good in the last campaign he wasn’t outstanding. For the sake of no competition it seems he is willing to take a backwards move to a West Ham or Crystal Palace, most likely ruining his chances of adding to the FA Cups he has won. Why he does not have the mentality that he will train and then play so good his new boss won’t have a choice to pick him, suggests this is a man who’s confidence is low. Gareth Southgate does not rate him and now he finds his first love not begging him to stay. Unfortunately it appears he will take the easy way out.

I would understand if he said Juventus interested him. That would be viewed as a fresh challenge, where he could win silverware in a League which probably would suit him physically. They’re not going to make him any promises either though. If he ends up choosing to go to mid table side then what a waste of a talent.

Dan Smith

20 Comments

  1. My view is that any player who is unsure if he wants to play for the club should be immediately transfer listed. Too many agents and players play blackmail games. Don’t care if he was born on the pitch. If he is unsure about fighting for a first team place get rid of him.

    1. Wilshire is average. Not bad not amazing. Unkess he can prove otherwise thats the view that most fans have and clearly the coach too. He claims to love arsenal through and through prove it. Im glad the new manager has said put up or shut up. And zi hope this continues to be the culture

    2. Very harsh on a player who has given so much. Wilshere has the tenacity to play for Emery. Assurance of a fair chance is not being disloyal. We’ve seen that coaches have their preferences in this game no matter how good you are. No matter how good you are, you need to be given a fair chance to fight. Ask perez.

      1. Perano, Wilshere has given so much to Arsenal? Well if he has the club has also been very supportive. For years, he was injured and Arsenal continued to pay his huge wages. And after only one season of being relatively injury free, he thinks he should close the book. I say good riddance.

  2. Maybe he thinks he is entitled to more playing time as a starter. Whereas Arsenal coaches thought otherwise, because of his performance in the field and his statistics

    I believe most people do not really care whether he should fight for his place or not, because they have seen his limitations

    If he played in a better system and if he had better coaches in his younger days, maybe he could live up to his potential. But now he just cannot start ahead of Ozil and Ramsey for the big matches

    1. The first line of the article says….”in our hearts we all want Wilshere to stay” This does not include me!
      And anybody wanting Wilshere to stay is not saying it based on football alone, maybe out of sentiments or whatever.

      Wilshere at his best is an average player, doesnt score or assist much, he cant really defend and he is of course so injury prone.
      Apart from that, he has had more than enough chances
      This is the time to be ruthless, this is the times to give someone else his chance(Maitland Niles) am so sure Niles if given the chance will be better than him.

      In all our midfield options, Wilshere is the last i would consider for my starting 11…is he even fit enough to play the pressing game?

      1. Entirely agree and my own post (blelow) says the same about “in our hearts….” Dan Smith seems to me to be a very sentimental man concerning Jack’s future welfare. I am not. All players are obscenely well paid and will not want for money the rest of their lives – unless they choose to blow it all and that would be entirely their own fault. I am sentimental about many things in life, most of them completely outside sport and am not a hard and unfeeling person. But , like virtually all on here, we are Arsenal FC fans, first , last and always, not JACK WILSHERE AND HIS BANK BALANCE AND FUTURE CAREER FANS. Perspective helps us see what matters to the club we love and also what does not. Successful Prem managers cannot ever be sentimental about players and must always put the club first. That does not make them unfeeling but just having the right priorities and doing the job they are paid to do. Shame the previous manager did not always adhere to that principle.

  3. The player needs to move on.He won’t start in the First Team and we have young players coming through in AMN and Willock who will need game time in the Cup competitions.Why keep a player that will do himself and the Club more harm than good if he stays.

  4. I think every player has to fight for there place in the starting 11, otherwise they tend to slack off. Wilshire had a contract offer albeit without garunteed playing time but its up to him to fight and play his way in to the team and Emery’s plans, if he doesn’t have that in him, then he’s better off playing for a mediocre team, where he doesn’t have to try hard.

  5. Can only fight up to a point. At his age playing regularly is probably more important than where he plays

  6. Jack should go, he’s had 10 years to prove himself and is too injury prone for Arsenal to even think about offering him a new contract.

  7. I agree time for Jack to move on he is no use to arsenal anymore not going to be a game changer unfortunately will never see the best of him due to the amount of injuries he has already had real shame but wish him all the best!!

  8. Wilshere needs to go….by playing regularly he can improve and regain his confidence

  9. OT: This World cup is so full of surprises. I won’t be surprised that England might even win Tunisia tonight

    #TeamIceland
    #TeamSson

  10. I am not too concerned whether he leaves or stays.
    But to be fair, if the press reports are true, he has been offered a contract, where his salary is very much dependent on whether he plays or not. Also according to the press reports, Emery has told him he will only be a fringe player. Those put together mean he could be facing a lot of time on the bench at a low pay (compared to what he may get elsewhere).
    it is a tricky situation.

    1. Word is he has been offered a base weekly pay of £100k, plus incentives. No player should be guaranteed a starting position regardless of performance, if Arsenal wants to be competitive. Competition between players for positions means a competitive team.

  11. I think and hope he stays….b’cus he still got something different to offer..and given the fact that we are not going to buy any replacement ill rather him stay and fight..Godknowns he ain’t as bad as most of you are making him out to be.

  12. I’m not sure Dan Smith can speak for us in saying “in our hearts we ALL want Jack to stay”. I don’t, for just one Gooner. Now had he instead said, we are all sad that Jacks early talent has been diluted by constant injuries, I would have agreed. But my view has always been and always will remain, that I support the club above any one player,manager, employee; even Henry, Bergkamp, Adams, Viera and all my other heroes. Entirely for that reason alone I believe Jack is no longer worth a place in our squad under our new and hungry manager. I am sad , it is true, that it worked out this way but do not , “even in my heart” , Dan Smith, want him to stay. His time has come and gone and THAT is being realistic and putting the club BEFORE the individual; something the previous manager was always reluctant to do, to the clubs detriment.

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