Arsene Wenger says that Jack Wilshere is close to being considered for Premier League action, and insists the 90 minutes he played against Doncaster last night will have helped his comeback from injury.
The midfielder is still on his way back from a broken leg, but was the Gunners outstanding player last night against the League One outfit.
The Arsenal manager was keen to keep that performance in context, but admitted that the 25 year old is in his thoughts for more important fixtures in the league.
“I think you have to put this game into perspective,” he said. “It has not exactly the intensity of a Premier League game, but it’s important for him to build him up gradually.
“For me he is available now to play and the decision I have to make is when to play him, but I think this kind of game in its 90 minutes at that intensity repeated and then he will soon be back.
“You see that in his movement it is natural and after that everybody is looking at him because of course everybody expects him to come back to his best and I wish that as well.”
His quality would certainly add something to our midfield, so let’s hope he’s come through last night without any aches or strains, and he could be in the squad against West Brom on Monday if that is the case.
Great! Give the manager selection headaches, more competition on our weakest area. I like him but he has to be more careful in making challenges, not to injure himself.
sorry, but jack only knows how to play one way
knock knock knocking on Wenger’s door
Disgusting
Really glad to see him back and hope he kicks on….going to need to be able to rotate our midfield as we go…and although young he has bags of experience and offers something a little different that what’s currently there…especially useful in these 10 behind the ball sides we come up against
Bad news. The last thing we need is Wilshere being shoehorned into the team. I preferred when he was injured.
This is daft. The more players fit and available we have the better.
You’re playing chess with a pidgin blogs.
Really?? Ridiculous statement.
Can you please expand on your train of thought because right now I feel like this is the dumbest comment I’ve read this week, and I refuse to believe it is from a fellow gooner
Wilshere is one of Wenger’s favourites and he’s always tried to shoehorn him into the team, even when it upsets the balance of the side. I’m sure there is a quote from some years ago, when Wenger said he’s always envisaged Wilshere in every Arsenal team he’s built. On the other hand perfectly worthy players like Perez and Campbell have been forced out. It’s all part of the same British project bullshit our clown manager has been peddling for years and years now. Would much rather see Wilshere gone, and he can take Walcott with him. Oh well, it’s probably… Read more »
Topin You’ve probably never watched Jack in full flow, he’s unstoppable. Do we have a central midfielder who has better attributes than wilshere.. No. He’s a fighter, touch, dribbling, vision, passing, work rate: he’s class, perfect wengerball player. Without his injuries he would’ve been a beast. Wenger, media, Roy, Capello all ear marked him as a future England and Arsenal Captain. I have witnessed him, TR7 and Diaby suffer so much becuase of consistant injuries. The pain of their huge potential going to waste will go away only if wilshere finally stays injury free and makes it here at Arsenal.… Read more »
Balance of the team? Just revisit that goal at home to Norwich and see for yourself
You do realise we need a quota of homegrown talent? There’s not many better than Wilshere.
What is wrong with you? A fully fit, motivated and sharp Jack Wilshere walks into any side in the league. Are you a Spurs fan in disguise?
I for one hope his injury problems are over (however unlikely that may be), that he rediscovers his old form and become an integral part of the side.
I like Wilshere bit he couldn’t even get into the Bournemouth side in the latter part of last season
Could be that he was injured. Played in most games for them and was their outstanding player. The players say how much they miss him this season. I suppose one shouldn’t expect a sensible comment with your name.
Actually this is a bit of revisionism. Wilshere started his time with Bournemouth well but it faded and when they had a tactical rethink – not too long after Christmas if I remember correctly – then he was not an automatic starter. This was before his leg break. I suspect Eddie Howe wanted to build the team around Wilshere initially, he was no doubt a big coup, but realised Bournemouth couldn’t afford to do this in every game. Josh King was their outstanding player and Jack looked good but never stood out. I’d love Jack to fulfill his early incredible… Read more »
Hmmm, not sure about that one, I think our manager is not sure about jack
I wonder what you did to come an Ex-Priest
Said something against the second coming of christ (aka jack wilshere)…
His absurdly cycloptic fandom is quite religious culty:
“he’d walk into any team in the league”…just wow
Glad to have him back, but you homers need to reign it in a little
what..??
@ Russ, hes American… (Dave M)..
Not even close mate
Ex-Host Morgan is the Alex Jones of Arsenal blogs. It’s performance art.
You were better when you were a priest, Tobin. Be better.
Everyone always says, I would pick Ramsey over Wilshere, or vice versa.. but why not consider playing them together? Of course it depends on what you think his best position is but I think deep lying Wilsh is certainly an option. Is he worse than Xhaka, I’m not totally sure. I think he potentially offers the same in passing, and for sure more dribbling ability. Also, perhaps when Ozil (probably) leaves we could always consider playing them all together!
Wilshire and Xhaka pivot with Ramsey playing further up?
Wilshaka, anyone?
Is he worse than the most creative midfielder in the Premier League ?
who
Do you really think Xhaka is the most creative midfielder in the Premier League???????? Wow.
I thought we tried that many times before, Wilshere+Ramsay+Coq behind them. The problem at that time was they played very similar roles in the centre and if they both ran up, that left Coq and the two CB exposed.
We also tried a deep midfield ‘pivot’ of Ramsey and Wilshere when we were short of other options for a short while and it was a disaster. The obvious happened- nobody home when needed. Can’t recall if that was pre-Arteta or when he was out injured. I think it was the latter.
If they’re both on the pitch one has to be attacking mid or on the wing.
The reason wenger always wanted to play Jack in no10 is because like hazard he’s a agent of chaos, with his little turns, one twos and close control he can upset any defensive formation. Roy played him at the base of his midfield to use his passing range but that was a waste of his talent tbh. We can use all his attributes If played in Ramsey’s position in the current system but of course, not in the current form.
So come on then, if fit and healthy, where does he slot in? Does he displace Rambo? Or does he even displace Xhaka? Just trying to think who we could partner him with in order to get the best balance in MF…
In reality he fits in on the bench, and would have to wait for Rambo’s next injury to get a start in the Premier League – assuming he is still fit himself
I hope Wenger is smarter and realizes Ramsey can’t handle the load of playing every game, so he rotates Ramsey and Wishere; even substituting them in games will help. Really need to baby their muscles if we are to have any chance of competing for the PL
We are not competing for PL this season. Sorry to burst your bubble dude
True that. Great if he can provide string competition. With Ozil leaving next year I think Rambo will be earmarked for the more advanced role, he offers a very different type of no 10 to Ozil but can be very effective. I see wilshere competing with Xhaka and we still needing an improved Coqneny alongside them. It’s not Jack I’m afraid.
I see Iwobi taking the reigns from Ozil, provided he continues to progress.
well for a start he is better than xhaka, so take it from there
lol, you think xhaka is better than jack, wow
Xhaka is better and more creative than any other midfielder in the country. One of Wenger’s best ever signings.
ha ha ha, You are definitely having a laugh
Wow! You’ve been taking some of what Jack used to be on! Blue M&m’s that is 😉
for me he’s back up to Ozil and kicks Rambo out the team when fully recovered…
I like Jack as a player, but there’s a reason he went to play with Bournemouth (and got benched) and Rambo continued to nail a first XI spot. Fitness aside, Ramsey is a better player – and if he could sort out his positional discipline this season then I’d be hard pressed to name a better box to box midfielder in the EPL.
Before his injury problems Jack was way ahead of Rambo. Now of course Ramsey is way ahead. Rambo had a great game against Chelsea and I hope he kicks on but taking our Arsenal goggles off for a second there are definitely better box to box midfielders in the EPL: Bakayoko, Fernandinho, Pogba, Moussa Dembele
Moussa Dembele is most certainly not a box-to-box midfielder – Brendan Rodgers would tell you that!
What?
Its a Piers Morgan comment. Moussa Dembele plays for Celtic. Mousa Dembele is the Spurs player
Sorry Piers Morgan
I think if we had a fernandinho/casemiro type of player, we could play them both in a 3 man midfield.
He played in nearly all their matches and was their best player.
Return of the Jedi
Welcome home Jacky boy. It would be silly of us not to sign him up to a new contract. If we had diaby on the treatment table under contract for so long, it’s worth the risk. Jacky can still be a future gunners captain
Cech, Mustafi, Koss, Holding, Bellerin, Jack + Xhak, Kolasi-tank, Danny, Laca-striker, Ramsey…team if Ozil and Sanchez depart for grass that looks greener but is actually anemone tentacles painted green?
And you honestly think that team can win the league? LOL…
If Alexis and ozil leave we better get some Dam good replacements
I like this photo. Is it me or Jack is biting Wenger’s hand that feeds him?
To me jack should be playing the number 10 position in the Europa league & league cup games . Less tackles to deal with , also allows his pass & move style Tobe utilised around the box . Links up well with Giroud
Totally agree
yes, get rid of ozil and replace him with jack, and arsenal would be a far more effective team, more dynamic
Obviously you don’t like relative players. Don’t rate Xhaka or Ozil. Why don’t you support Stoke.
Creative not relative. Sorry
why don’t you, YOU obviously don’t like wining
I love drinking wine.
!!!!!!!!
Wining
where have I said that I don’t like xhaka
excuse me where have I said that I don’t rate xhaka, because I do
For someone who uses that alias , you seem to forget Özil had a big hand in delivering a couple of Balon D’Ors to him.
we shall see, if jacks not in the squad against west brom, then its not looking good for jack
lol
I wouldn’t say that. Everything Wenger has said since the match indicates he is not going to rush Wilshere in to matches back to back like that. I suspect a bench appearance.
So pleased to see Jack performing again, if ever a guy deserved a bit of luck re: injuries it has to be Wilshere.
Great to see Arsene having some options as this is going to be a long hard season, with many exhausting cup ties draining our resources.
Shame that we didn’t get to see Ntekiah get a run out yesterday, but his time will come.
Good news, and also isn’t it just refreshing to have a player that actually really wants to play for us?
Except that he didn’t because he went to Bournemouth because competing for places was too hard
Well that was then, this is now
I would like to do a little survey on here, thumbs up, or down for ozil
and thumbs up or down for wilshire
PROOF jack is better than ozil, thank you all for taking part
As I said its never been about ability. Its about availability.
I like his new look and thought he looked good over last couple of features.
God knows we need reinforcement in deep midfield and it has to be organic.
One thing jack can provide is vertical movement through feet up the middle somewhat akin to what Santi (and the unfortunate Diaby before) provided.
He should never have been allowed to go on loan last season. It left us short of alternatives in midfield and he would definitely have got game time with us, especially whenthings started going wrong in the new year and we needed to mix it up. I know he’s had his injury problems but we held on to Diaby for all eternity and he was well and truly crocked. Jack showed last season that he can sustain fitness, he was just unfortunate with the one big injury he’s getting over now, so I think it’s far less risky to offer… Read more »
Play him or Iwobi in Ozil’s place. I would like to see repeat of Chelsea game. Players working together and pressing in the midfield
Ozil