Arsenal: Jack Wilshere contract infinitely more important than Mesut Ozil’s

Arsenal’s contractual situations with far too many players is murky, but it’s time to prioritize, and no one is higher on that list than Jack Wilshere.

Arsenal are going to lose some players soon, whether by selling in January or by free in the summer and there isn’t much they can do about it. Blame who you want, but if Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were never going to stay, then the fault has to fall on the club for not acting sooner to sell and replace them.

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The whole situation is annoying and troubling, mostly because, by Arsene Wenger‘s own admission, it is going to cost £60-70m to replace Alexis alone. Which is tough to do if you’re getting nothing in return.

So that whole situation sucks. But more importantly, there is another contract expiring soon that should really be dealt with even before we start thinking about what to do with Ozil and Alexis and, as the title tactfully gave away, that is the situation involving Jack Wilshere.

I still don’t believe that there was any concern over Wilshere potentially leaving. For all the doubts surrounding the loyalty of those other two, Wilshere has never had doubts. He wants to be here and he has stated that again.

There have been so many talks about guys nearing contract extensions, or being offered new deals and in each and every situation, it has ended poorly.

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When Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was offered a new deal, he was sold mere months later. Mesut Ozil said he wants to stay but there has been no movement and Alexis has apparently gone so far as to say that there is no chance he will even discuss a new deal.

WIlshere is different. Contracts are always a relief. We have been starved of that relief since the summer started. Before that even. We’ve been waiting to see someone lock themselves into this club in the ultimate show of faith.

No one has been willing to pull the trigger.

For someone like Wilshere to do it would be a massive lift and, not just that, it would show that he still wants to be here. Which is worth a hell of a lot these days with so many players wanting out.

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Wilshere is on the cusp of making strides into the first team and, if justice is going to be served, it has to be right around the corner. Giving him a brand new contract to accompany his big return would just be all too appropriate.