There was a time when Jack Wilshere being the future of Arsenal Football Club was seen as a good thing.
When he made his club debut as a 16-year-old in 2008, it was clear that he was a special talent.
By the time he was 19, Wilshere had Arsenal fans cooing at the sight him dominating play against Xavi and Andreas Iniesta in their pomp as Arsenal ran out 2-1 winners in first leg of their last-16 tie against Barcelona.
Arsenal crashed out in the second leg thanks largely to a ridiculous Robin van Persie red card that I’m definitely not still bitter about. It was expected that Wilshere would kick on from there and become the player Arsene Wenger promised he would be.
Instead, that performance five and a half years ago as a teenager represents the peak of Wilshere’s career to date.
Now it seems that the midfielder will be sent on loan in search of regular playing time – something which I think is the best option for all parties.
Arsenal fans have always had a good relationship with Jack Wilshere. In an increasingly international game, Wilshere was the one local lad come good in the Arsenal squad. He’s Arsenal through and through. Even when he did go on loan, it was to a proper English club like Bolton.
Even when he was caught smoking, drinking and whatever else over the years, it only seemed to endear him to the fans more. Because he seemed to at least understand the club, even if he wasn’t always on the field.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNufSQQo3Sk
But Wilshere finds himself at a crossroads. The next big thing is still waiting for his chance, and finds himself behind Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny and possibly even Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the battle for a starting berth in the centre of the park.
The 24-year-old is running out of time to discover himself as a player, and it’s becoming steadily apparent that he needs a new challenge to grow.
Arsenal cannot afford to ease him in again, as they have tried to do so many times throughout his career already. And at this point in his career, sitting on the bench does him no good. There’s no option for Wilshere other than to leave North London, if only just for a little bit.
The only problem is deciding where he should go.
A loan deal to a club like Everton or West Ham would allow Wilshere to try to rebuild his confidence in a steady, well-coached team with enough weapons to be competitive. But if he moved to Bournemouth, he could finally be the main man as he so desperately wants to be.
There are rumours that he may move further afield, to somewhere like Roma or Valencia – both challenges that could teach him far more than the comforts of the Premier League. Wherever he goes, it can only be good for Arsenal.
The way I see it, one of three things will happen. Ideally, Wilshere will thrive in his new environment and rediscover the type of play that won him so many plaudits as a teenager. In this case, he will return to the Emirates with a fresh outlook and a hunger to finally reward Arsene Wenger’s faith in him.
The second option is that he goes to another team and, for want of a better term, flops. Either through another injury or just poor play, Wilshere fails to impress in his new home. This is not an ideal situation for Arsenal fans, but it may allow Wenger to honestly evaluate Wilshere and determine he needs to cut ties.
The third possibility is probably the most likely, and is also the least desirable because it offers no real solution. In this scenario, Wilshere joins a lesser team and performs admirably for a whole season. He lights things up in one or two prime-time games, but is generally just good. Think James McCarthy.
The reason this is the least desirable option is because that makes it likely that he will return to Arsenal without actually earning it. Any player returning from a loan deal must be evaluated as a new signing – and I don’t mean in the Arsene Wenger way of everyone being like a new signing.
Simply put, you must ask yourself if you would bother pursuing and signing a returning loanee if they were available. Because I worry that a season of slightly above average performances – particularly if his best play coincides with Arsenal’s annual dip – might be enough to convince Wenger to give Wilshere another chance in the form of a five-year contract.
After another two seasons Jack Wilshere will be due a testimonial. But if he wants to reach there, he’s going to have to leave for a little while and find himself because what he’s doing right now isn’t working.
Whether he can finally fulfil his vast potential will depend heavily on these next few months. The choice is up to him.
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