Arsenal Vs West Ham United: Could this finally be it for Jack Wilshere?

Arsenal travel to West Ham United on Wednesday night with Aaron Ramsey unavailable with a hamstring injury. Could this finally be it for Jack Wilshere and his Premier League return?

Jack Wilshere has had to be a patient man. Sunday, May 15th, 2016 was the last time that he made a Premier League start for Arsenal. That was 577 days ago. Nearly two years. That is a long, long time for any player to wait.

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But Wilshere has waited. And worked. His loan spell at Bournemouth was not as successful as he might have liked. Or expected. He struggled at heart of the Cherries’ midfield, failing to adapt to a team that no longer dominated possession. When Eddie Howe shifted to a 4-4-2 formation to deal with the loss of Calum Wilson, Wilshere was the man who was dropped. His legs cannot handle the physical demands of a two-man centre-midfield.

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Soon, his legs, or leg, would break altogether. He returned to North London in caster, seemingly entering the final stages of his Arsenal career. His contract expired in a year, his place in the squad, never mind the team, was in the balance, and, yet again, he was starting a season in the physio room. It was a long way to the pitch.

Arsene Wenger, who has always been one of Wilshere’s stoutest supporters, decided to give him a chance. No Champions League offered an opportunity: play a weakened team in the Europa League, that included Wilshere, and see what he can do. Well, what he did was plenty, including an elegantly thrilling performance last week, as he carved open BATE Borisov with every shimmy and shake, every subtle touch, every probing pass, every spin and dart. It has led to many calling for his name when the Premier League rolls around. That time looks as though it may be about to arrive.

As Arsenal prepare to travel to London Stadium to face an embattled and hardened West Ham United side, buoyed by a stirring loss to Manchester City prior to a stirring victory against Chelsea, Wenger is preparing to shuffle his pack.

Aaron Ramsey hobbled to full-time against Southampton on Sunday, and Wenger confirmed that he would miss Wednesday’s match with a hamstring injury. That provides a solution to a problem that previously hinted at some major tactical surgery.

The problem for Wilshere was that he didn’t really fit in the 3-4-3 formation that Wenger has been employing this season. The front three positions were occupied, Ramsey was ostensibly nearing his marauding peak, and replacing Granit Xhaka would have upset the balance of the midfield too much. There was no place at the inn. But with Ramsey out the equation, for the time being, it seems as if the road is clear for Wilshere.

Next: Arsenal Vs West Ham: Predicted starting XI

It will be 578 days, if he starts, since that 4-0 win over Aston Villa. It will be a welcome return for Arsenal’s very own prodigal son.