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Jack Wilshere’s health could make this Arsenal campaign
By Josh Sippie
Jack Wilshere’s health is a thorn in the side of Arsenal and it has been since the day he was conceived. After being hyped as the future of Arsenal and English football, the glass-ankled midfielder has suffered numerous injuries to that pesky joint upon which the average human stands.
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This season was full of promise, but young Jack Wilshere suffered a hairline fracture in his ankle and jeopardized the life of Gabriel Paulista in the process.
However, after a miraculous recovery, Jack is back in training and only a few weeks away from returning.
As it stands, Arsenal are in an epic duel for who should start next to Francis Coquelin – Aaron Ramsey or Santi Cazorla. The camp is divided, although the majority are in favor of the Spaniard.
Each side has pros and cons. While Ramsey has more energy and defensive qualities, Cazorla is more creative and offensively gifted. Ramsey no longer wants to play on the right wing and Cazorla is blocked from the left wing by Alexis Sanchez.
Arsenal do not exactly have a midfield crisis, but the point is that it could turn sour.
Enter Jack Wilshere.
The English bulldog’s talent centers on his aggression. He is a tenacious, box-to-box midfielder that has tremendous ferocity, adequate pace and creativity and good defensive instincts.
If you were to combine Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla and average out their strong suits (and toss in that tenacity), you would end up with Jack Wilshere, or something close to him.
After seeing what he could do when fully healthy, a lot of renewed pressure was placed on Wilshere to become a central figure to this team. As it stands, he is one of the rare covers at defensive midfield should something happen to Francis Coquelin and for that reason, it really could make or break the year if Jack remains healthy or not.
Let’s start with how it could ‘make’ the season.
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Jack Wilshere is incredibly talented. You cannot possibly deny that fact. His goals at the tail-end of last year and into international competitions proved that despite all the injuries, Jack Wilshere was still improving and building on the excellent raw talent and potential he had.
If he can stay healthy, there is no keeping him out of this Arsenal line-up. Wenger will have to find a place for him and wherever he goes, this young man will be a game changer. Not just on the ball but in pursuit of the ball and in terms of team spirit. It sounds corny but it really is something, he is incredibly Arsenal-centric and that kind of thing is contagious.
Jack Wilshere is going to be a central part of this team. Wenger is right on in his assessment of Wilshere, saying via ESPNFC: “What you wish for Jack is that he can compete now for six months without any problem, or for a year without any problem, and then you will see the player we all know he is.”
Time for Jack Wilshere. That is all we need.