Wilshere’s Gamble

August 3rd, 2010 | by: Matilda |

jacky This next sentence is incredibly difficult for me, as a Bolton fan, to type. I think he made the right decision. I’ll back up a little. After England’s dire World Cup performance, a lot of talk has been aimed at the English youth. A certain Jacky Wilshere, at the ripe young age of 18, in particular has been talked about as a big part of the future of English football. Young, talented, and hungry, there’s not doubt that the boy has a future. Last January he went on a half season loan to Bolton (from Arsenal, of course). There he impressed with raw talent, but it was quite clearly still raw. Well he went back London-way at the end of the season, and has subsequently impressed in preseason friendlies (winning man of the match in one). So here’s his conundrum: does he stay at Arsenal, risk less game time for higher quality football, training, coaching etc, or does he go back to Bolton where he knows he’ll play but at a lower level?

He decided (or Wenger decided for him) that Arsenal was the best place for him. I can certainly see the attraction, after all Arsenal has all the glitz and glamour that Bolton will never have, but glitz and glamour doesn’t do you much good if all you do is watch from the bench. At the beginning of the summer, I reckoned Wilshere didn’t have the experience or finesse to play regularly at Arsenal. Without play at this important developmental time, his raw talent may never evolve into the star he’s expected to be. However in this summer’s friendlies he’s set about proving me wrong, performing admirably, and probably swaying Wenger’s hand away from a loan contract.

Owen Coyle and yours truly had hoped that Wilshere would return to the frigid North, but he thinks he has what it takes to break into Arsenal’s first team. He’s looked good this summer, and I hope for the good of English football that he looks good this season. Best of luck to Jack Wilshere.

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ArsenalOffside

Well, to be fair, he won man of the match in both Emirates Cup matches last summer, too, and still clearly wasn't ready.

But the reality is that Arsenal play in 4 competitions. We'll probably play about 55 competitive matches, all told, by the end of the season. There will be playing time to go around, and Wilshere will certainly get to start, if healthy, in both domestic cups' matches, and will likely get some substitute appearances and injury starts in league and CL matches as well. All in all, I'd say he's in for a good 25-30 appearances if he stays healthy, with probably half of those being substitute appearances. And that's not too bad.

But I think his desire to stay at Arsenal, and Wenger's desire to keep him at Arsenal, goes beyond first-team appearances, and is about more than just glitz and glamour. It's also down to coaching, facilities, and chemistry. It's no insult to Bolton, and I do like Owen Coyle, but the training facilities and coaches at Arsenal are really second to none in England. And Wilshere will get to develop a rapport on and off the pitch with the guys he'll be playing alongside for the next few years.

So I think that you're definitely right, and that this is probably the best move for Wilshere and Arsenal, although I think he benefited quite a bit from the loan spell last season.
Iggy112

As an Arsenal fan I was impressed with Boltons handling of Wilshere, he definately improved with the playing time he gained under good guidance from Coyle.

I would have been happy for him ti return to you for 1 more year.

Thanks for looking after and the honest appraisal of the situation
Kadumc

does anyone know when capelo will call up the team for the friendly against hungary?
Clarissa

Theres a lot of pressure being put on Wilshire after the WC- performance of some of the older, more experiencend players. Not sure if making one player out to be your saviour like that and putting so much media pressure on him is really the wisest thing.

Wilshire should be careful that he does not turn into a second Theo Walcott, about whom pretty similar things were written…
Waitforit

As a non-English watcher of premier league football, let me tell you, England's national team won't see success until it has an Arsenal backbone

This will likely be composed of Wilshere, Walcott, and perhaps Gibbs and 1 or 2 other Arsenal players (I realise many have already written obituaries for Walcott's career, but most will find out that was premature)

England will become a force when the traditional pace, heart and directness of the English game comes together with technically gifted players that can play a quick passing game and aren't afraid to be on the ball and hold on to it, or operate in tight spaces
http://www.soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

I'm just glad that Capello has chosen to freshen up this squad even though I still think that the shortcomings from South Africa will still be there. As much of a fan I am of the Italian, I think his shelf life as England manager has expired and a new face is badly needed now.

Hungary will be no test but what price on his head if England only have one point from two qualifiers.
http://www.soccerlimeyinamerica.com SoccerLimey

I agree that England won't be a force until we are more direct and meld that with skill, passing and comfort in possession. While Arsenal are definitely the most talented team in terms of possession in the Premier League, they are novices when it comes to using that to win games against top class opposition.

Walcott and co are definitely the future but a team dominated by Arsenal players ? No thanks.