Steve Bould says that Jack Wilshere will have to manage injuries and niggles for the rest of his career, as the midfielder’s future at Arsenal remains in serious doubt.
Arsenal have tabled a take it or leave it offer that the 26 year old has not deemed acceptable for him to sign, and it seems more and more likely that he will depart on a free transfer this morning.
The Guardian report this morning that the club are ‘sanguine’ about such a possibility, and speaking ahead of tomorrow’s game against Stoke, assistant manager Steve Bould intimated that the litany of injury problems Wilshere has suffered are a contributory factor to the offer made.
“That’s the nature of Jack, I’m afraid,” he said. “He can pick up an injury because his ankle will turn. He’s got a sore knee.
“I think perhaps he will always have a little niggle here and there because of the way he is structured. But he’s a great player. A fit Jack Wilshere is a very good player.”
Bould was a youth coach as the England international was making his way through the academy, and understands his connection to the club as well as anyone, but warned a fully fit Jack Wilshere is going to be hard to find.
“I’ve known Jack since he was a real young kid,” he said. “He loves the football club and we just need him fit more often than he has been in the past.
“It is something he might have to manage all his career.”
Hope he stays, but this is definitely a factor we have to take into account, especially with our past form on this kind of thing.
Also, best wishes to Ray Wilkins.
Jack has the talent but like you say his injury history is a major factor in whether he stays.
I would like him to stay but we need someone who can be relied on throughout the season.
Agreed – best of luck to Ray Wilkins lets hope he can make a complete recovery.
We gave players like diaby and rosicky contracts while they were injured. We extended BGF and arteta’s contract when they barely featured, and the same with Cazorla. (And rightly so imo).
I want Jack Wilshere to stay at arsenal, I think his presence is really important behind the scenes. Him and Ramsey are the only senior players that have been there since they were young, they’re both finally at an age where they are coming good and can be potential leaders in this team. I personally want them both to sign new contracts no matter what.
Be gone wih ye, slow news! Football has come at last.
And yet, there a still some people who find the offer that Arsenal has made to him insulting. It’s insulting that he’s not willing to commit after all the years where we paid him for not being available. Can’t see other clubs spending big money on him with all his baggage. Think he won’t sign because he’s hoping for a good World Cup and good offers afterwards but it’s a very risky game. Could easily get injured in the remaining weeks of the season and could also easily not being picked for the squad or a starting place by Southgate.… Read more »
Good world cup or not, let him take his chances with another club and see how long they stick by him as his injury record begins to stack up. If that’s what he fancies. Otherwise there’s his old club who’ve been loyal and are still willing to support him through potential injury spells albeit for less but still fantastical money. Better make his mind up soon!
Ozil is “fit” on the pitch the same number of games per season as Jack anyways. Why paying one three or four times less ?
I can’t recall Ozil missing a whole seasons through injury or Wilshere being the league’s top assist and chance creator, let lone winning the World Cup. That’s why one is being being paid three times the amount of the other
I sometimes watch Jack and think “not bad, he is better than I thought, shame it’s not consistent” to seeing amazing out of this world passes come out of nowhere and almost every time it’s Ozil who creates them.
Jack, for his qualities, is another British player who hasn’t quite lived up to his potential, Ozil is an artist. If he played the violin he’d be Menuhin!
His violin gets the team into deep sleep. That’s the problem. The reason is that it doesn’t go with leadership and determination, the refusai to lose. His attitude is win is fine, lose is fine. Why are you guys hailing one or those who fail to lead the team into winning?
While some of us appreciate the great composers of classical music I guess you’re more of a Showaddawaddy guy.
It’s quite obvious – in almost a Sanchez way – that he is leaving. More pertinent is whether Ramsey signs. If he doesn’t – and it doesn’t look like he will, although he might if a new Manager comes in – then we need wholesale restructuring, being – goalkeeper, defenders, central midfielders and wingers. It is far easier to list what we don’t need than what we do. The crux on this, is that we are on course to post a loss of upwards of £35 million for this season, owing to thumping wage hikes and a loss of TV… Read more »
Tell it as it is…does it like it should.
He should sign that offer.
I give Bould a lot of credit for putting it in stark terms. Sometimes Wenger is diplomatic and circumspect on these issues to the point where the crux of the matter isn’t clarified to the supporters.
Jack’s injury record actually hasn’t been bad over the last two seasons. I fear him leaving for free and going on to be fit elsewhere.
Walcott and Coleman at odds
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They’re like Jack and Vera on Coronation Street, Seamus Coleman and Theo Walcott. They’re having words now.
Coleman is expecting him to track back a bit more and help him out more and Walcott hasn’t got a clue.
Off subject but remember times like this.
He’s got an offer to play for the Arsenal. Looks like he doesn’t want to, so fuck off.
Bould has suddenly become very talkative hasn’t he?
a half fit wilshere , is better than most of the arsenal team