Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has admitted Arsenal players were caught on the hop by Jack Wilshere’s loan departure to Bournemouth.
The England midfielder decided late in the transfer window that he wasn’t going to get enough playing time this season and opted for a season with the south coast club, and the Ox is hoping he can return to North London to stake his place again for the Gunners.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t a surprise,” he said ahead of England’s World Cup qualifier against Malta on Saturday.
“I give him a lot of credit for having the courage and the fight to make something like that happen. He felt it was right for him and he went and did it and I have a lot of respect for that.
“I hope he comes back,” he continued. “He’s been the star boy of Arsenal. Fans love him.
“He’s an amazing talent and an integral part of the squad.”
Part of the reason Wilshere was allowed go was because he wasn’t necessarily integral, but Arsene Wenger remains a huge believer in his talent, so let’s see what this season brings for him.
it was Gibbs who was surprised, surely?
You are Andre Marriner and I claim my £10.
His comments are like his form… consistent in patches
So now, the OX and Theo look similar?
You must be worse than Andre Marriner, I name you “Mike Dean”
It’s no suprise to me. Just take a look at the players we have in midfield. Look at the quality.
A while ago Wilshire and Ramsey would be on the top of my list to be in the starting lineup.
Now they’re last!
I love Jack the player. It’s hard not to think that this decision was somewhat impulsive. It’s also hard not to think that being left out of England played a role. For me that was short term thinking, time will tell . Let’s hope that Jack the man develops as well as Jack the player .
It seems being left out of England team had a huge impact on our English players. Wilshire going on loan, ox kick up the butt and Walcott deciding he was going to start trying hard… interesting how different players react to ‘lows’. Hope it just makes them all stronger
personnally unless Wilshire has an astounding injury free season hes days are numbered cant see him being the next Santi and with the other talents we have in midfield would be hard not to be a bit player at best you can never say no in football lets hope for some good karma and him smoking on the pitch rather than of it……………….
Jack is a great talent. Players do not lose talent, they lose form. Balotelli is making havoc at Nice getting his form back. Wilshere will do same. There is a reason, Wenger always says that Wilshere is a world-class player.
He was supposed to be the next Mr. Arsenal. Sad to see him go but there was just no other option for him.
Staying would have only made things worst for him without game time. Hope he gets enough game time and hits top form this season and stay fit for an entire season. With Cazorla not being offered a new contract he will definitely walk into the team once he hits top form.
Why do you think Santi will not be offered a new contract? Seeing how crucial he is I would be surprised if he wasn’t.
Everything is on merit this season. This includes playing time, player form and of course Wenger’s contract. That is the way it should be. Iwobi’s appearance in the games so far has been purely on merit for all to see. If Wilshire regains his form, it won’t be a problem for him to make regular 1st team appearances once his loan season is over.
we are sorry because ‘This is a house that Jack built ‘ … and i doubt he’ll be back 🙁
https://youtu.be/aJsUE3isQhc
Jack should’ve been playing the role Iwobi I’d playing in the current squad.
Not sure why the downvotes.
Right now Iwobi is playing the wide playmaker role who likes to tuck in centrally and exchange positions with Sanchez who sometimes drifts left and Ozil drifts right for Theo to drift forward.
It’s a role jack could’ve easily done and probably would’ve due to squad seniority.
Maybe it was having a random ” I’d” in your post? 🙂
Really hope he has a good year. He will get better (or back to his previous levels of performance) with game time, but you sense with him it’s about rebuilding now. I just wonder how much he will actually improve as a player at Bournemouth. Still, I’d love to have him back to help us defend the title next season!
I heard Roma were intersted in him for loan during the window? I can’t begrudge him going to Bournemouth, he will be a first teamer and it won’t impact his family as much as going to Italy, but I think it would benefit English players to go abroad more, develop themselves personally, and improve the depth of their tactical understanding.
This was very surprising to me too. You get the feeling that the squad could still benefit from Jack’s presence and option, particularly as we could do with someone who can carry the ball through the middle. Jack comes closest to replicating what Viera and Diaby (on limited time) afforded us. Santi can do it too but he’s older now and may not have as much in the tank. So you have to think that this move is MORE meditated by the player than the manager. If anything, Jack represents a better option than Elneny because he would have brought… Read more »
I think people are looking into this way too much.
Wilshere’s hardly played in the last two seasons due to injury. To be first choice in a low pressurised environment will do him good – on the basis he stays fit of course.
He would have got games at Arsenal – no doubt – but he wouldn’t have been first choice. Going to Bournemouth and being the main man will certainly boost his confidence and he will hopefully come back to us next season as the talented played he is.
Jack probably wouldnt have a problem staying and playing a decent amount of games, possibly usurping Santi before the end of the season.
But that’s not possible because he was injured for a really long time and he needs consistent games, every single week, to get back to his best.
He realised that there’s absolutely no guarantee like that for anyone at Arsenal, so he knew what he needed to do for his own career.
I don’t understand how anyone could say his decision was impulsive. He must have thought about it throughout pre-season and the first few games must have reinforced his belief. Yes, it is a strange decision. But I think it is the best one he has made yet. Going on loan and trying to play regularly at a slightly lower level than Arsenal play, in a team in the same incredibly difficult league as Arsenal, with a young, ball-playing manager ticks all the boxes. How would he be able to prove to critics, and more importantly, to himself, that he can… Read more »
I’m surprised it wasn’t you Alex
It took balls for jack to make a decision like that,really hope he can get a full season under his belt and comes back to us fireing on all cylinders.serious competition in the central area he’s going to need to be at his best when he’s back,it will be interesting to see if they can keep him fit and see if it is our training methods that gets the players these injuries.