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02nd Jun 2016

It’s hard to tell who comes off worse from this ridiculous stat – Jack Wilshere or Leeds United

Drinkwater must be raging

Ben Kiely

When’s the last time Jack Wilshere played a full 90 mins for Arsenal?

Remarkably, the answer to that question is six Leeds United managers ago – a stat which is in equal parts depressing for Arsenal fans, infuriating for Danny Drinkwater and amusing for pretty much everyone else.

After trawling through match reports, we discovered that as mental as this statistic sounds, it is actually true.

To find the last time the perpetually injured midfielder completed a full 90 minutes for the Gunners, we have to travel all the way back in time to September 23, 2014.

Wilshere played the entirety of Arsenal’s Capital One Cup third round 2-1 loss to Southampton that day, and here’s some photographic evidence to back that up.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 23: Jack Wilshere of Arsenal battles with Sadio Mane of Southampton during the Capital One Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on September 23, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Wilshere has struggled with injuries since that match and for every appearance he’s had for the Arsenal senior team, he’s either been taken off early or started from the bench.

Amazingly, Leeds United have had six managers during this period – Dave Hockaday, Darko Milanic, Neil Redfearn, Uwe Rosler, Steve Evans and new boss Garry Monk, who signed a one-year rolling contract with the Championship outfit on Thursday.
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