As he spent yet another extended period on the sidelines, it was suggested that Jack Wilshere’s playing style may be a contributory factor to his injury problems.
The midfielder likes to draw the opponent close before nicking the ball away, and that has seen him clattered now and again.
WIlshere is aware of what’s been written but doesn’t think it will alter how he plays the game. Speaking to the official site, he said, “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.
“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.
“When I’m on the ball, I have to get close, 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.”
At this point all we can do is let him play and hope the hits he takes aren’t too damaging. Or he gets really good at getting out of the way.
He could always take a lesson from Theo.
I have such a football malaise at the moment. I really try and get interested, but I can’t break through this apathy. Props to you guys running the site, I don’t know how you manage to get the motivation to report on Arsenal at times like these.
I’m just looking good forward to the euros now.
Where wilshere will obviously be playing before getting injured in a preseason against Barnet!
All that matters is why has Wenger still not been sacked, and why have they still not offered Simeone, who is presently paid 4.4 mil to get into CL semis, the salary of 8.3 mil that Arsenal pay to Wenger to not get into even the CL QFs for 6 straight, to come and manage Arsenal?
Everything else is irrelevant.
What’s irrelevant is your comment in relation to this article.
EVERYTHING that is not the news of Wenger having been sacked, is irrelevant to Arsenal’s development.
Thats the cold hard truth and everyone knows it, thumb down all you want.
Same. In all my lifetime of being a gooner (tbh, mostly during the Arsene years), I’ve never felt the malaise like it is now.
In general, there’s just a sense of despondency and helplessness about it all. What can we do? But watch the same movie this time next year.
I’m showing my age here but the Don Howe years, George Grahsm’s final couple of years and Stewart Houston’s year were pretty dire.
But yes, I agree that the current malaise is possibly more frustrating than any of those eras because at least we were so shit we could be realistic enough not to expect to win anything. We had a Spurs-like expectation so expectations were comfortably low.
Don’t forget the end of the Bertie mee years…17th OK once! And most of the Terry Neill years
Bills won’t pay themselves!
Those at Arseblog probably just continue to report on the club they love rather than react to every knee jerk reaction caused by faceless people on the internet
Please don’t change, Jack. Just stay fit.
I’m always amazed when I hear about footballers who say things like “I read a few things” and you just know it’s blogs, too. Because I don’t remember newspaper sites discussing whether Wilshere’s style of play contributed to his injuries (specifically that he should move the ball quicker, or, you know, have a better second touch so that the ball isn’t suddenly presented for a 50/50 challenge). Didn’t Mertesacker once inadvertently give away that he read Arseblog (without mentioning Arseblog specifically)?
I’m Petr Cech, by the way.
https://www.facebook.com/mertesacker.per/posts/10152009852273391
This was the post (the link from FB doesn’t seem to work: http://arseblog.com/2014/03/almost-per-fect-why-i-love-the-mert/
Maybe arsene should pay Theo 140000 a week to coach.
To ask him to change his style of play would be almost equivalent to him quiting footie and taking up golf altogether. He is defined by it now.
Ffs we was robbed off stellar careers in Diaby and Rosicky, let’s hope injury gods can grant us a reprieve with Jackie boy.
This thing that Wilshere “invites the tackle” is a really bizarre victim-blaming rhetoric and I’m quite fed up with it to be honest. He can’t help the fact the referee is doing a terrible job not picking up on those tackles.
He should watch a few videos of Theo tackling Younis Kaboul. Theo couldn’t get out of the way quick enough. If he wants another career he could become a French Army tank driver.
While i understand the french stigma they are actually one of the most decorated war winners in the world with countless tactics and military inventions that have shaped the biggest battles.
The French army has always been top-notch, it’s the political leadership that gives France the reputation it has.
Selfish attitude from Jack. If he’s injured all the time he’s of no use to the team. Can’t change, or “won’t” change?
He has played less than 100 games for Arsenal in 5 years. If he can’t change then he is of no use to us or any other club. Sell him to Spurs.
If he can’t change what do we do to help him then? Oh, We have a Manager, sorry I forgot……!
This is Jack. Jack loves football and he’s awfully good at it.
Jack also never gets a chance to play because he gives his opponents a chance to not look so awful and they take(his ankles) it with both(legs) hands. Jack has to take a leaf from Santi, Zz, Pirlo and even Iniesta’s style to become the untouchable world class Roy Hodgson, Xavi, Messi and Arsene know him to be
Be smart jack.
If you can’t change then how can you progress? I appreciate Jacks drive to run with the ball but in the bigger picture it’s not about his desire to dribble, but about how his game can vary and be less prone to risks, for the better of his own game and the quality of the team. I’m concerned that he argues that what’s most important is his instincts, not intelligent choices, which I consider the most important aspect of his role both in the team and on the pitch. Maybe this again is a result of Wengers reliance on player… Read more »
Very good point.
I can imagine Ramsey justifying his own lack of discipline and selfishness with the exact same argument “it’s part of my game, it’s in my nature/I can’t change”.
ffs just pass the ball jack
I’m pretty sure this is the same exact thing he said last year, and guess what it’s the same now. So surreal
Wishere should watch Iniesta over and over again. He gets his body in there way rather than hanging his ankles out there for a kicking.
Shooooooooooot!
I still have belief that he’ll be our future one club man, mr arsenal, captain.
Dream on, Zzzzzzzzzz…..
That’s great news actually in my opinion. Apart from Sanchez, Cazorla to a point, we are a bit less direct. I’ve been watching Spurs a few times this year (not helping my angst towards Wenger in any way), and the three things that stand apart are Kane, Alli and Dembele. Kane and Alli strikes at will, creates space for themselves and play quick intricate passes to achieve that. Much like Welbeck and Iwobi against Everton. Dembele, you just can’t get the ball off him, he draws two or three midfielders towards him then he sets off the attack quickly. This… Read more »
Jack ought to go back and watch some video of TH14 in his pomp. Thierry was quite happy to run at the opposition, liked to keep the ball close, and brilliant at avoiding tackles. I’ve never seen another player who could do that as well as him; it’s one of the reasons why he was so rarely injured, even superficially.
Agreed, he also enjoyed knocking a ball past a defender and regaining possession while his opponent was still wondering what had happened!
Now there’s someone who might even do a bit of coaching with Jack — and Theo too?
Wenger: I don’t think I can change.
This is the same thing he said last year. And why the fuck is he blaming opposition for cracking his ankles if he doesn’t have the skill to get out of the way or pass the ball before he is tackled ? Just more excuses from a player who has talked a lot but hasn’t played enough. And only he is to blame. Not the opposition or the manager.
““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.” How can a smart coach like Wenger allows that kind of stupid statement? Football is about passing, not about selfishly running at someone for… well, we don’t know for what, btw! But well, he knows he won’t get criticised, so he can do it and also smoking, drinking… For years he’s been… Read more »
Or he can go to Spain and flourish in a league that, in contrast to the PL, does not try to hide technical inability behind marketed “physicality.” Don’t get me wrong, I love the PL much more than La Liga but you got to admit their technical prowess is far superior to the kick and rush tactics of the future champions this season. I believe Wilshere would’ve developed more in more technical leagues rather than getting his ankle broken every two weeks in England.
I thought I was the only one saw Theo jump out of the way like Brer Rabbit in that game, Jesus! If I was Wenger I’d make him watch a clip of that lilly-livered crap on a tablet sitting on the bench at every single game for the rest of his Arsenal career. Jeeesssuuusss!!! Dude is just so not IT!
Maybe if the officials used those bright cards they keep in their pockets opposition players would think before smashing into wilshere.
I dont a player being too quick or clever should excuse a late challenge.
I think arseblogg is being overly harsh on Theo at the moment!
Jack’s one of the few players in the current squad that can give us vertical penetration through a crowded defense. He is able to dribble through 1 or 2 players and make a difference. Ramsey, Elneny are more pass and move players. We are somewhat lacking right now in the current squad, in players who can take on and beat two players or more. We use to have Henry up top where we lack this critical dimension in the forward line. Similarly in midfield, Viera provided the muscle and Diaby (when he was fit) finesse and physicality. I think Wenger… Read more »