Could the coming season be make or break for one member of our first team squad?
Jack Wilshere is regularly talked about as “The next big thing”, he’s expected to be the “Heart of Arsenal” and England. Football pundits and past England managers rave about his skill, his vision, his commitment and his growing strength.
Should we and others rein in our enthusiasm just a bit? Early promise led to comparisons with such luminaries as Liam Brady and Dennis Bergkhamp.
A regular on the Arsenal bench after an impressive pre-season in 2009, he was nonetheless loaned out to Bolton Wanderers in January and made 13 starts for Owen Coyle’s side and scored his first Premiership goal.
Back at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger gave him his chance and he became a regular in the Gunners midfield as well as becoming one of the first names in the national squad after his senior call-up to the England side in August 2010.
Sadly a foot injury sustained in the summer of 2011 eventually required surgery and an ankle problem further delayed his rehabilitation and ruled him out for the whole of that season.
Last season Jack had a frustratingly in/out campaign, and in the opinion of some observers, did not regain full fitness or get within reach of his potential. His last appearance came in the 0 – 1 away win, against Newcastle United in the season finale, as an 89th minute replacement for Santi Cazorla.
If the now 21 year old is to live up to his early promise it is vital that he quickly achieves, and maintains, his optimum fitness level. Little can be done about injuries and both his style of play and on-field position make it even harder to avoid them.
There is no doubt that a fully fit and functioning Jack Wilshere brings a new dimension to the Arsenal and England midfield, we must all hope and pray that he is able to fulfil his potential and help both our club and the National side achieve success in the upcoming season.
Written by Norfolk Gooner
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
First!
There’s no denying the fact that Jackie’s so much respected with his commitment, even at his very young age. He’s robbed shoulder with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta et al. He’s obviously going to make it big, and, I’m optimistic that, this season will be very huge for him.
Second, and third?
Excellent, NG.
Definitely a big, big season for Jack.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OrkRBFuU_8
Nice post NG. I for one am quite relaxed about Jack and feel the same about all our young players. We have had similar concerns with the likes of Ramsey and Walcott regarding how quickly they are developing.
It would be interesting if someone could look at all the top teams and analyse how many young players are introduced to the first team before a certain age. I would imagine that Arsenal will be well out in front on that count. I think we tend to worry about them not making the grade far too early purely because we first see them at such a young age that even when they are only 21 we feel they have been around for ages.
AW has proven time and again that he can get players that we tend to write off too early up to first team, if not world class status. The Italians wrote off DB10 too early and I think all Arsenal fans can be grateful for that. Arsenal are a strong team without Jack but even stronger with him. I am not worried if it is still 2-3 seasons before Jack hits his absolute peak, and believe he will be considered truly world class at some point in the future.
Good day to you all.
Thanks Chas for putting up the clips, that tackle on some Dutch bloke in a Man U shirt was tasty to say the least.
GoonerB, I’ve no doubt that Wilshire will be a huge influence on Arsenal in the coming seasons.
Thanks for a thoughtful Post NG
Jack was clearly not quite ready when he came back into the team last season.
But you only have to cast your mind back to his performance against Barca’s best a couple of years ago to know what’s still to come.
This will be a big year for Jack – and for Arsene, in terms of finding his best position in the side and making him gel with the rest of the MF.
LB has always maintained that Jack is more of a deep-lying MF than an attacking MF. I’m still on the fence on that (I still feel he could turn into another Cesc) but perhaps I’m shifting slightly in LB’s direction… Just don’t tell him 🙂
I can’t see Jack being the deepest lying of the three midfielders à la Arteta.
His instincts to attack would make him unreliable in that position.
Where’s LB? 🙂
Chas
I’m thinking more of a Pirlo role (the way Pirlo plays for Italy, as a deep-lying playmaker).
I should think LB is glued to the Tour de France.
This is a list of the current mid-fielders on our books.
It’s an outstanding group of players which to my mind means we are not that reliant on Wilshere as we might think.
Of course he is an outstanding player and I really hope that his incredible talent comes to fruition, but I’m just pointing out that we have a lot of viable alternatives.
Reserves and youth players.
Chuks Aneke
Kyle Ebecilio
Thomas Eisfeld
Serge Gnabry
Anthony Jeffrey
Glen Kamara
Alfred Mugabo
Kristoffer Olsson
Jon Toral
Jack Webb
Nicholas Yennaris
Gedion Zelalem
…………………………………………………………………………………
Ist team squad.
Mikel Arteta
Santiago Cazorla Gonzalez
Abou Diaby
Emmanuel Frimpong
Aaron Ramsey
Tomas Rosicky
Jack Wilshere
Higuain spotted at an English airport! …….O.K. It was Bournemouth.
Real Madrid are in town for a friendly. They are staying at a hotel in Sandbanks. Oh No! That’s where Old ‘Arry lives! Could he be trying to hijack Gonzo for QPR? 😀
Rocky,
Isn’t that Pirlo role only possible in a 4-5-1?
It’s late kick off for the TDF.
Probably Chas – but I’m out of my depth when you start bandying formations around 🙂
Out of your depth compared to me. Hahaha.
Sorry, did someone say tactics or formations or something?
Can I help?
Afternoon all, top post Norfolk, like GoonerB I am not worried about his journey into first team regular status, I think I am more worried by fan reaction to the not so good performances.
Some may say it won’t happen, but it did with Rambo, it did with Ox last season (judging by comments heard on my infrequent visits to the Ems), it will with Jack, it depends how he overcomes them, and how he feels about the odd bit of benchwarming.
As GN5 shows above we have plenty of options in midfield, couldit be Jack is more important to England than Arsenal this season?
Norfolk
“Should we and others rein in our enthusiasm?”
No 🙂
Excellent post, thank you. For me Jack is an unbelievable talent, and only bad luck through injuries will prevent him from becoming an Arsenal Great.
That starts this season.
Just the nine lobsters 🙂
Cooking to do.
Spuds have signed a winger……..bye bye Gareth
Completely agree, Wilshere is so key for us and his being fit in addition to some new additions could bring success in the coming season.
Interesting GiE. Is he going to RM or the Mancs?
Just been on twatter. Might not bother with it at all this season. Maybe there are good times of the day to go on when all the twats are asleep?
Hopefully the head and front paws to Madrid and the back legs and tail to the mancs.
so Hig to Napoli
Hannibal to Madrid
Granny shagger to become a chav
and monkey boy and Cesc to join Gollum.
Cool
Nice post Norfolk
We should not put pressure on Jack, though i do thing he will bring harmony to the Universe
Its wrong the way the media etc pile the expectaions on the lad, but he will go on to become the best midfielder in the world, though its bad to say so, even though its true, so we shouldnt say it, but its a fact and we all know it, but for heavens sake lets not say it.
Jack will become Arsenal, Englands, and the worlds greatest player, but please please do not put the guy under pressure. Lets be mature about this.
Chas, just choose the right people to follow, it’s funny the amount of people I’ve followed because they’ve said something sensible and the unfollowed the next day when I realise it was an exception to the norm or they are just knee jerk reactionists.
ChocolateTeddyBear is worth a follow, as are the obvious Arseblog, LadyArse, generally find sound people to follow out of their retweets.
Terry
As ever, 😀 😀 😀
So Chas, what winger have Spuds signed? Does it mean Bale is offski, or moving more central?
“so Hig to Napoli
Hannibal to Madrid
Granny shagger to become a chav
and monkey boy and Cesc to join Gollum.
Cool”
Something very unfunny about this, but at the same time hysterical
I love a bit of hypocrisy and Suarez is a great example. If we sign him
Racist = misunderstood and anyway it was Evra so “so what”
Ear muncher = hungry
Cheating bastard = complex character
Micky, personally never heard of him Nacer Chadli from FCTwente, another Belgian.
Micky I’m not sure I will be able to change my opinion of him.
They say once bitten twice shy, well he has twice bitten so I guess we should be four times shy?
silly me checking NewsNow for any transfer news. Should have known that Chas knows it first
so what about Torrez, will we at least get him?
GiE
“They say once bitten twice shy, well he has twice bitten so I guess we should be four times shy”
Complicated Maths for this time of the day 🙂
Evonne
My money is on a DM and a Left Winger type. I say “type” in an effort to please GiE who likes this inter-changey type of player, whereas what I really really mean is a Left Winger 🙂
Micky – don’t give me that formation shmayshon bull, names please!
Steve looks interchangey.
Anthony Wedgwood is too old.
Morning early Monkeys! 🙂
Are there any lobsters left on the coast of Devon. 🙂
I’ve just been trying to think of great left wingers who’ve played in England and really struggled.
Peter Barnes and Gordon Hill were first to come to mind.
Then Peter’s brother (by anuvver muvver), John.
Who else? Even worldwide, there’s a shortage of all time greats.
Graham Rix?
ooops: Monkeys = Micky’s.
Nah — monkeys looks right — all things considered! 😀
Morning, RA.
There are still some residing in Jayne Mansfield’s Derry Air.
If you want the job, that is.
Match day, boys, pig and dog fanciers.
11.30am kick off.
As live on Arsenal Player from 1.30pm.
Chas
Let’s face it, Steve is the only name in the hat for that wide berth.
However, you cannot go wrong with a one named Brazilian called Steve. It really isn’t that tricky this football manager stuff is it?
RA
Caught nine. Put four back. Gave one away. Ate four 🙂
Micky, I am horrified/envious of your lobster hunting success!!
Horrified — because I have never done anything so exciting as to dive for homaridae, and envious because I have a particular predilection for Thai red curry lobster. 😀
Chas, 🙂
Your 7:32 has made me realize I am not as fluent in UK English idioms as I thought!
Jayne Mansfield’s Derry air —- Quoi!! 🙂
RA
“Jayne Mansfield’s Derry air” is a reference to a Pete n’ Dud sketch.
Lads,
I get why The Arsenal are touring the Far East as it’s about flogging shirts and key rings to the little fellas, but Real Madrid playing Bournemouth!!!!
Beware bad language (minors and mothers).
Thanks, Micky.
That is brilliant Chas!! 🙂
Morning all
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