The main reason why Arsenal loaned off one of their brightest academy products last summer was because of Wilshere’s unavailability for most of the season owing to injuries. And while that has been sorted out to some extent with the 25-year-old playing as many as 25 Premier League games for the Cherries so far, there haven’t been any extraordinary performances from the England midfielder to prove that Arsenal have missed his services.
He has managed to register just two assists in all those games despite Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe showing utmost trust in him for the most part of the season. Wilshere has lost his first team place to Joshua King now, who has been prolific in the number 10 role that Wilshere failed to make his own.
His contract with Arsenal runs till 2018, and given the current crop of midfielders, the Gunners have at their disposal currently, Wilshere’s first chances are pretty much absent. Despite some pathetic displays from the likes of Aaron Ramsey and Francis Coquelin so far, Arsenal can replace them successfully with Granit Xhaka, Santi Cazorla and Mohamed Elneny as and when needed.
Of course, Arsenal are going through a dark phase, something they haven’t had in the last 21 years, but it seems to have stemmed more from their underwhelming defensive performances and not lacking midfield creativity. And to further diminish Jack Wilshere’s chances in the squad, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has emerged as Arsenal’s latest revelation in the false number 6 role. Wilshere’s compatriot possesses way more aggression than him and fits Wenger’s requirements perfectly.
The 23-year-old has netted four goals and four assists in 23 league appearances for the Gunners, which exclude his vibrant displays against Southampton in the FA Cup and against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League.
Wilshere is undoubtedly a highly skilled player in the middle of the park whose dribbling skills and vision up the field have been unparalleled at times, and who has played over 150 games for Arsenal scoring 12 goals and assisting 24 times, but his inconsistency has made it very difficult for the club to consider him for the future.
And if Manchester City boss, Pep Guardiola, who is apparently an admirer of the English midfielder, makes an offer for him this summer, Wenger or whoever will be in charge of Arsenal is expected to let him go. His international career has also suffered for it too, and it’s time he took charge of it.
