Arsenal: Jack Wilshere honesty only supports his case

Jack Wilshere admitted that Arsene Wenger told him that he could leave Arsenal last summer. Wilshere chose to stay instead. Such honesty only supports his case for a new and improved contract.

There are some players who just understand the nature and the characteristics of a club. Tony Adams and Arsenal. John Terry and Chelsea. Gary Neville and Manchester United. Jamie Carragher and Liverpool. They are not always the best players at the club. They are not always the most talented or skilful individuals. At some points in their career, they are not always the most popular. But they have an innate and deep understanding of and relationship with the club. And that is valuable.

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But if I was to ask you who, in this current squad, that player was, I believe you would find it difficult to answer with anyone other than just one name. That name is Jack Wilshere and he could very well depart in a just a few months time.

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The reason why I bring this up is his recent comments while with the England squad during this weekend’s international break. Wilshere was asked about his return to Arsenal last summer. Wilshere admitted that Arsene Wenger told him he could leave the club, if he could find a suitable destination, and that a new contract would not be offered to him:

"“He gave me the opportunity [to leave] with three or four weeks left in the transfer window <…> He said, ‘I am going to be honest with you and at the moment we are not going to be offering you a contract, so if you can get a contract somewhere else, you can go’. <…> I did not find anything that I wanted and at the same time I was not really fit, so I decided that I wanted to stay and build up my fitness.”"

That is an extremely interesting story. It shows the determination of Wilshere not only to continue his football but to continue his football at a club that he was not wanted at. In the same interview, Wilshere admitted that he was not happy with Wenger’s decision, but decided to see his rehabilitation through and then fight for his place.

These comments come in the context of a contract dispute. Per reports, Arsenal are asking Wilshere to take a pay cut to remain with the team beyond the end of this season.  Wilshere is rumoured to be upset by that in the aftermath of Mesut Ozil’s new £350,000-a-week deal that was agreed in January. The two, for him, don’t quite add up.

Now, I am not saying that because Wilshere has fought his way back into contention he is therefore deserving of a hefty pay increase. But at this impasse, his honesty in revealing the hurdles that he has had to overcome to re-establish himself in the squad certainly help his case. In the increasingly PR world, representing yourself as the hard-working, resilient type only endears yourself further to the fans.

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Mr. Arsenal is quite a title. It is not one that Wilshere has yet earned. But he is the closest player in the squad that there is to a fan, rather than just a footballer. And that is important, pay rise or not.