Jack Wilshere Must Claim Spotlight Against Besiktas

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Arsenal’s Champions League playoff match against Besiktas is as crucial a game as they come. Not only are Arsenal expected to win, but they’ll be at home on their own turf playing in front of all of North London. The problem is that Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud (amongst others, of course) are unavailable for the match.

With Ramsey benched due to his red card, it falls on the shoulders of Jack Wilshere to seize the midfield spotlight and deliver the game of his young career. It’s time for all that potential and prospectus to turn into a product. Ozil isn’t the kind of player who lives in the spotlight, and Cazorla doesn’t fit the bill either. Arsenal need that dominance that Ramsey provides, but without Ramsey. So I nominate Wilshere for the part.

With Ramsey out, this is Wilshere’s moment to step up and prove that he’s the real deal.

Wilshere has some of the more difficult aspects of the game nearly mastered, it’s the simplicity of the game that he’s still lacking in. The basic passes, the maintaining of possession – that’s where he needs improvement. When Wilshere showcases his brilliance, there are few better. But you don’t always have to be brilliant.

Arsenal isn’t going to have the powerful presence of Giroud in the box to wait for crosses, either. It’s going to come down to the creativity of their attacks, an aspect of the game that Arsenal tends to thrive at at times.

Wilshere will be forced to play box to box, aiding on defense and commanding on offense. Alongside Ozil and Santi, the potential for creative midfield play is unlimited, it all comes down to finding the right passes and finishing.

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It’s important that Arsenal not be afraid to shoot. Wilshere (and Ozil at times) seem hesitant to pull the trigger, opting instead for a flick pass or an extra touch or two. They could take a note out of the Ox’s book, if the path to the net is clear, take a hack and test the keeper. Who knows, it could lead to a rebound, it could take a deflection – when you fire at the goal, stuff happens (and usually good stuff, at that.)

Wilshere mentioned preseason that he needed to step up his game and start delivering. Thus far into the season there have been drastic improvements. With Ramsey out, this is Wilshere’s moment to step up and prove that he’s the real deal.

The only question that remains is whether or not he will rise to the occasion.