Arsenal: Jack Wilshere Setback Hurts The Most

Arsenal have had numerous setbacks and injuries striking lately, but it is Jack Wilshere’s setback that hurts the most for several reasons.

Arsenal had just started to get back on the right track towards health. With the return of Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez and Francis Coquelin, it was all looking good. Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla were just on the horizon as well.

Related Story: Treatment Of Joel Campbell Is Treasonous

However, in typical Arsenal fashion, that streak came to a screeching halt when it was revealed that both Cazorla and Wilshere would not be ready before April. That was followed up by the news that Laurent Koscielny had sustained a calf injury and Petr Cech has sustained a hamstring injury.

So much for good news. All of this was compiled on the Gunners awful form lately.

To me, the only thing that Arsenal really need right now is fire. That’s it. They have all the talent in the world. But when world class athletes like Alexis Sanchez are walking around saying that Arsenal don’t believe they can win the title, something is wrong.

Watching Swansea, it was so clear that confidence was incredibly lacking. Giroud and Alexis combined to hit the woodwork three times, so that didn’t help. They need someone to help them realize who they are.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

That is what had me so excited about the return of Jack Wilshere. The feisty Englishman may have an injury record longer than the Magna Carta, but he stays healthy in patches. Plus, we wouldn’t even need him healthy for that long. Just keep him fit for a couple weeks, long enough for him to get under his team mates collectively laid back tushes and light a fire. Someone has to do it and I see no other candidates other than Jack Wilshere.

When it comes to leadership, this team is horribly lacking. Arsene Wenger inadvertently confirmed that by stating that every position had it’s own leader. That’s not a good thing. However, when you get down to potential candidates, the squad is just as lacking. Who is audacious enough and embedded deeply enough in Arsenal to take someone like Alexis or Olivier Giroud by the collar and tell them to shape up?

Not many. Again, I can think of only one – Jack Wilshere. Wilshere once headbutted Marouane Fellaini, so what wouldn’t he do?

More from Arsenal News

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

All this got me to thinking about what could have happened over the last half decade if only our young Englishman could have stayed healthy. Every single year the story is the same thing. Just when you think they’re on to something, the team slips up and there is no one there to pick the team up and slap them around a bit, as necessary.

There is no one to take control and hold his team mates accountable. There is no one that even talks, according to Stoke City’s Charlie Adam. Four straight years (with Wilshere around, that is) of the same problem. And the solution has been Jack Wilshere all along. Health just hasn’t been on his side.

Next: Arsenal Holding Olivier Giroud Back

Fate is a cruel mistress. Hopefully Wilshere can return in time to make a difference.