5 Reasons Why Arsenal Should Start Jack Wilshere Against Chelsea

Jun 7, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; England midfielder Jack Wilshere (7) dribbles the ball against Honduras during the second half at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Jack Wilshere has been absent from first-team Arsenal football since he headbutted Marouane Fellaini on November 22nd of last year. But now he’s healthy and has yet to see the pitch. Granted, his opportunities have been limited, this opportunity is the best one yet.

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While tossing a player who’s been injured for five months into first-team action against the league leaders may seem like an ill-advised move, there are several factors, a handful in fact, that are in Jack Wilshere’s favor.

Arsenal currently sit a whole 10 points behind Chelsea with a mere six matches yet to play. It’s not an enviable position, and yet they aren’t completely out of it. Regardless, it may be that next year is their nearest chance of success and next year will be Jack Wilshere’s year to shine.

Former Arsenal man Ray Parlour has dubbed the young Englishman as the future of Arsenal, so long as he can stay healthy (via the Daily Mail). Once his health can stay consistently positive, he’ll finally be able to string some games together and restart the great form he found in 2014. But we don’t want to keep him on the bench for too long when each match could get him closer to overcoming his troubled history and assuming the prominent role in the team we’ve always thought he’d have.

The problem with fitting Jack Wilshere in the lineup is that the team is in such good form as it is and changing out anyone just doesn’t make much sense. Wilshere has even admitted the difficult road ahead of working his way back into the Arsenal lineup.

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“You can name four or five attacking midfielders who are world-class, and I’d say there are more of my style of players fighting for that position,” he said (via ESPNFC).

But as far as injuries are concerned, Aaron Ramsey, Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil all came back stronger than ever when they returned from injury. Only Theo Walcott has found that injury didn’t benefit his return, but a 75% success rate bodes well for Jack Wilshere.

While Wilshere may be lacking in recent first team experience, here are five reasons why Arsene Wenger should “throw the young man into the deep end” and watch him swim beautifully and regain the form he had half a year ago.

Next: Number 5