Arsene Wenger says that although he could use Jack Wilshere in his squad right now, it was the right decision to let him leave on loan in August.
The 24 year old more or less demanded a move after being left out of the England squad, and with just Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka available to him, having Wilshere around right now would be useful.
Santi Cazorla’s Achilles injury has seen him sidelined since October with no firm date yet on his return, while Mohamed Elneny is away with Egypt at the African Cup of Nations.
Speaking of Wilshere, Wenger said, “Yes, I could use him now, but if he had not played until now, he would not be ready to play now.
“What looks unfair is that at some moment in the season you know you could need the player.
“But even at the start of the season you need to have the right balance between competition and numbers and chances for the player to play.
“And still today I think it was the right decision for him to go to Bournemouth.”
Wilshere has played regularly for The Cherries and recent weeks have showed signs of him finding some form.
However, in the second half of the campaign he’ll be keen to add to the single assist all those games have provided, and he’s yet to score a goal this season.
Maybe it was the right decision but knowing our injury record and Elneny going to AFCON he really should have added an option to end the loan in January (even if at a small fee)
Don’t think Bournemouth would have accepted a clause. Why would they give him games and try to get him fit and then let him back when he finally is? Makes no sense at all.
That option’s not available. Season-long loans are not allowed to have a recall clause. Period.
Who said it had to be a season long loan? It could have been a loan until January that we could have then renewed until the end of the season.
Bournemouth probably wouldn’t have paid a fee to have him on loan but I am not convinced they wouldn’t have taken a free season half season loan for free.
In fact Chelsea are considering taking Ake back from Bournemouth because they have a recall option in their loan deal
What do people think about Jeff as a temporary or long-term replacement for Cazorla? I read on here he has excellent close control and so can pass his way out of pressure/pressing a la Cazorla?
He reminds me a bit of Diaby in that he’s a tall lanky bastard and those octopus legs are very useful in poaching goals and passing.
It’s definitely too early to say, however in the games I’ve seen there have been glimpses of quality with his first touch but his decision making isn’t there yet.
The Jeff can only be compared to Diaby after he kicks John Terry in the face.
Iwobi looks like he could slot in there now. Can dribble,tackle,pass and he has a good brain and stature.
Too weak physically right now to play midfield in the PL but yeah why not in the long term.
Is Arsenal wasting time with Zelalem? He is supposed to be in the team and ready to do a job at this point in time.
jeff does not have the required defensive qualities to play in santis role. iwobi can play there , zelalem has improved a lot on his defensive part after his loan with rangers . i feel jeff should work more off the ball
Perhaps he’ll stay there permanently. With Cazorla aging and concerns remaining over fitness of Ramsey its not too radical to suggest the signing of a central midfielder in January or the Summer. Think Wilshere with a year left on his contract may want to stay at Bournemouth than have the same competition next year.
As long as Ramsey and Xhaka remain injury free (yes I know) these next four games give them a great opportunity to get used to playing alongside each other.
All you have to do is look back at Arsenal’s injury record to know it was the wrong decision. Maybe right decision for Wilshere, bit wrong decision for Arsenal.
Disagree completely. An unfit, unsharp Wilshere is a bad thing. Even with games here playing his way back into form eventually, it would have been the wrong decision for Arsenal. Citing Arsenal’s injury record as a reason to hold onto Wilshere just in case is laughable given the amount of time Jack has spent on the sidelines. Bournemouth and Eddie Howe are doing right by Arsenal and Wilshere allowing the player to boost his fitness by playing regularly. That was the purpose of the loan, and if in turn it helps to ensure their safety in the league then great.… Read more »
I totally agree. Howe has managed Wilshere into the first XI bit by bit. He played 60-70 minutes per game in the beginning of the season, but now plays the full 90. At Arsenal, he wouldn’t have had that time to ease in.
I hope that Jack can realise his potential. At Arsenal, when he’s back next season. (Well, you can always dream…)
Don’t think I’ve seen anyone else mention that Ox used to play CM yet. I think Iwobi has played at CM as well, and Ramsey as a DM. So while it’s certainly not ideal, I think we have enough cover until Elneny’s return. Unless he get’s injured at the ACON too… As for Wilshere, the club would be crazy not to offer him a new deal IMO but the question is will he sign? I think he can definitely get regular football here, he’s versatile enough to play at CM or 10 as well. Now we just need to convince… Read more »
Think it comes down to whether he can go a season without a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Else, we may have to consider cutting out losses.
Jack’s a fantastic player, and as sad as it would be to see him go we need to make decisions which will benefit the team. Diaby, for me, is a prime example, fantastic and completely dominant in his injury free periods, but sadly the injury he sustained destroyed his career.
Agree about the Ox in midfield but I think we would be too exposed defensively with the current formation. We could adjust our systems to suit ox/iwobi to midfield 4-1-4-1. Xhaka would get to play like a true DLP too.
——–Cech/Ospina———
Bellerin- Mustafi-Kos- Monreal
———-Xhaka————–
Walcott-Ox-Ramsey-Ozil
———-Alexis———–
If/when walcott makes a run and ozil cuts in it becomes a 4-4-2 with a diamond.
—–Xhaka—–
–Ox—Ramsey–
——Ozil—–
Walcot—–Alexis
Just a thought… We played a similar formation a couple of seasons back
The only benefit to keeping Wilshere instead of loaning would be for an extra body. It certainly wouldn’t be for his goals and assists or his general form. He’s not even come close to replicating his break out season form. That was 5+ years ago…
And because of this he would have been limited in game time, thus prolonging the issues with his fitness and general form. He is still an Arsenal player, and given the amount of time he was out of the game, this season needs to act as a kick start for him.
There’s more to good midfield play than goals and assists. How many of either (excluding pens) has Santi got since moved to a deeper role? Jack has been very good for them of late.
Forgetting all the injuries?
How are you supposed to replicate any form if you’re not able to play?
Wilshere’s passing and dribbling statistics have been fantastic this season and the lack of goals and assists is a bit of an anomaly considering the amount of times he’s hit the woodwork and the amount of key passes he’s made. I wouldn’t worry about it really, it’s wrong to bring it up while ignoring his overall performances
Sell Ozil, resign both Sanchez and Wilshire and we should be quite fine…we would save some money and still be as strong considering the youth players we have needing a break.
Stopped reading after the first two words because nothing you could possibly say would make any sense after that opening.
Whilst its not ideal, we still have Ox who has played there before quite well and also have players like Maitland-Niles and Zelalem who both could slot in. Remains to be seen how ready the latter two are, but who would have said Iwobi would have been a starter a couple seasons a go?
I said this before, it was a bad decision to loan Jack out. Still hindsight is easy and we do not know what would have happened if he stayed. He could have got injured in training. He might not have progressed due to lack of first team football. Many uncertainties.
Football is so much more than goals and assists. Wilshere has lifted bourenmouths level this year- he has provided a platform for the whole team to improve. Statistics are important, but the intangible things, like hunger and determination, and also the use of space, are equally as important and influential. He’s been awesome.
Chelsea’s calling Ake back from season long loan from Bournemouth.
http://m.bbc.com/sport/football/38544921
So it’s actually allowed by the rules, WTF?
the main thing is him completing a season without injury, wenger wants him back so lets hope it works out for both parties concerned he has the talent to wear the AFC shirt lets hope he stays