After a superb first half, and a very good overall display, Jack Wilshere got another 90 minutes under his belt for Arsenal, and showed some real moments of quality throughout.
The midfielder stood out during the 4-2 win over BATE Borisov, grabbing an assist for Theo Walcott, and now that he’s building up his match fitness should start knocking on the door for Premier League games too.
We all know Arsene Wenger is a huge fan of his talent, but has said his future depends on his fitness – and the Arsenal manager says he’s praying Jack can stay fit.
“He had an outstanding first half and he did fight until the end,” said Wenger. “I think he is on a good way back to his best. He has shown that tonight.
He is at an age where a player normally gets to the best of his career,” he said. He is on the way up and he has only been stopped by a series of injuries.
“Hopefully, I just pray that he is not hampered anymore by any problems and then we will see him getting stronger and stronger.
“He has shown again tonight that he has not lost his football.”
It’d be good to see him stay fit, because if he does he can add something to this team, particularly in the continued absence of Santi Cazorla.
He just jinxed it didn’t he?
It would help if people stop breaking his legs
It would help if he gets more clever and anticipated the physical way of playing football in England.
With this new hair style of his……I think he’ll stay fit
Aka the “Zizou bald patch”. Positive signs indeed…
Initially I thought lunjgberg magically appeared and playing for us once again. Jack played like Freddie last night.
Less weight on his legs eh??
Good to see Jack back. He’ll be a very important player for us if Wenger manages him well and doesn’t do what he did with Santi. It’d be great to see him link up with Mesut, Alexis and Ramsey. I’d love to see him in a 4-3-3.
What did he do with Santi? Expect a professional footballer to play?
over played him,with known issues…got injured playin against some minnow in that cash cow midweek after playin god knows how many minutes,running the show,hasnt been seen since,that makes me awfully sad, this team need hes genius and infectious smile,cudve won the league that year with the form he was n…mis management yes,and im wenger supporter forever,hes like my grandad…get well soon santi…sooner….quieker..please
Yeah it’s poor football management when a surgical problem keeps a player out of the game. Good thinking, I never put those two together.
Santi aggravated his achilles injury against Ludogerets. Stop lying.
There’s been a slew of articles from arseblog news alone detailing his problem as a recurring infection from surgery complications. Even the telegraph more or less states: “Cazorla, who has had eight operation of his ankle since the original injury, has shared a new video of himself in training as he bids to prove his fitness…””The doctors have told me that a case like mine is one that they probably won’t see again for a long time as it is unusual for an athlete.”” The doctors part being important. So you think that Wenger just ignored medical advice, the wishes… Read more »
Don’t tell them that. It was very logical to overplay a 31 year old player with recurring achilles problem in a meaningless game when we had Xhaka on the bench.
He stupidly overused a player with a recurring achilles problem. Santi did not need to play against Ludogerets. Then again, “positive fans” and Wenger fanboys like you never see logic.
Very pretty through-ball by him to Ainsland-Niles who flubbed the cross a bit, apart from the lovely chip for the assist. I always thought Jack had the touch but not quite the vision of someone like Ozil or Fabregas, but there were a few moments today where I started questioning that. Here’s to many more…
Oh no, Wenger is going to shoehorn him into the side isn’t he. Both him and Ozil are liabilities for this reason, and I’d prefer them both to be injured.
troll
How you can prefer our players to be injured with a fixture list ,the kind we have is beyond me.
And if they are injured, I trust you to blame Wenger for having injury prone players.
I didn’t particularly think of Wenger as a praying man.
A quick plea for the intercession of Bergkamp never does any harm.
He’s changed. We saw him pray, most notably, clutching Pat Rice at the end of ’11-’12. But that makes me believe in him more. Anyone who believes they are in control of 100% of everything and are also equally responsible for 100% of everything is delusional and hubristic. I don’t think Wenger is without his faults, and I think everyone, including the man himself, is beginning to try to close out his career in some rationalization of the narrative of these past two decades. It will be a sad day, no matter how the results go, to lose the truly… Read more »
Wasn’t Jack on his way out to West Ham?
He still holds the ball at his feet too long. He invites the tackles. If Jack could change that aspect of his game, I feel he can really string together a good run of games and compete for a first team starting spot. He did look brilliant in the first half!
How many games has he missed?At any other club,he would have been
sold. Me thinks Wenger is too nice to be amanager,
They may have beaten Bate but until Wenger can prove himself against the big teams,I will reserve judgement.
Btw,Ancelotti has just just been sacked. Nothing surprises in the fw except how the fm can escape the axe so long.
You’re reading the wrong articles and following the wrong team. This is Arsenal. This is the way we do things. We respect players as people not assets. We run a football club with the future in mind. We seek to create beauty and beauty doesn’t always win. I’ve followed his club my whole adult life. I accept it with all its frustrations and love it more because we have a certain way of doing things. Some people say we’re behind the times. Yes maybe. But I’d challenge you. Go follow another club this closely for a few years. You’ll find… Read more »
Well said. I don’t think I could still be so passionate about supporting Arsenal if we sold out like most other top teams. We have a billionaire owner, but thank fu** he doesn’t get involved in sporting matters. Nights like last night, seeing Arsenal lads get a run out, is what football is about. When is the last time Chelski gave a youngster a real chance in their first team? Most teams are killing the careers of so many aspiring and talented youth players now. Huge respect to Arsenal for sticking with a long term plan despite the huge temptation… Read more »
AW is waiting for your approval lol gtfo here
Jack
Best of luck to him. Jack was outstanding. He’d have bagged a goal too if Theo wasn’t Theo and actually passed.
Thoroughly enjoyable game as well. Makes a nice difference than watching us play Dortmund or Olympiakos. I’ve really enjoyed both games so far and hope the youngsters get a game in every group game at least.
Thumbs up for your second sentence. This is much more enjoyable than the tedium of another CL group stage (and if you see it as a means to an end, the end is losing to a good team in the round of sixteen).
Yeah that was a terrible decision by Theo. He had a good game though overall. Looked sharp for both goals.
Jack played well but I don’t think he’s a Pirlo type midfielder he thinks he is. He’s runs forward, his passing around the last third and his link up play is brilliant. I think he is ready for a first team call up and would be very useful against teams that sit back.
Wenger is pushing Özil out of the club for his leaving in january to make way for Jack, so yes, he can pray Wilshere can become good.
Btw, the latest games show we don’t need Cazorla.
His control/first touch was amazing. Passing and vision as well. I had forgotten what he really brings to the team. He was on the bench for PL last week, and I hope that continues because he brings a whole lot that we need to the table. Could break into the first team if he keeps this up. God, I’ve missed him. Can’t imagine what I’ll feel when Santi gets back now.
I really haven’t felt for any other player since Dennis retired or perhaps since Bobby left that he is a completely and ultimately Arsenal. Wilshere at another club, for me, is a real shame. His game, his quality and his attitude – its everything I want to see in a player. When he is off the pitch it is easy to say that he should go. It is logical. But on the pitch, it is indisputable to me that we should give him every chance so long as he stays professional and gives his all to get there. Really, really… Read more »
Wilshire is the real deal. He plays the beautiful game effortlessly.