Arsenal Vs Ostersunds: Jack Wilshere can continue making his case

Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey are seemingly competing for the same role in the Arsenal starting XI. Against FK Ostersunds on Thursday, the former can continue making his case.

When Jack Wilshere returned to Arsenal in the summer after a year-long loan with Bournemouth that had seemingly indicated that his time at his boyhood was drawing to a close, all he wanted was an opportunity.

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Despite entering the final year of his contract in doing so, such was his love for the club and his desire to carve out a role for himself, he decided to stay, knowing that, even once he had proven his fitness from a broken leg, something that is far from certain given his tempestuous injury history, he would not be given a starting position cheaply.

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Wilshere did eventually get his chance. It came as a result of an Aaron Ramsey injury. He proceeded to start eight consecutive Premier League games, playing 90 minutes in every single one. He impressed mightily. Specifically, it was his control of the ball when under pressure that was so valuable to the team, able to receive possession and spin away from trouble, initiating attacks from a deeper position.

But after a run of starts in which Ramsey was unavailable for all of them, as soon as the Welshman was fit enough to start again, Arsene Wenger made the switch, demoting Wilshere to the bench and using players like Alex Iwobi and Mohamed Elneny, players that he should be considered ahead of.

Now, however, Ramsey is again dealing with another ailing muscular injury — this time his groin, not his troublesome hamstring — and Wilshere is set to start at the heart of the midfield once more. He was fielded in a more disciplined role in the North London derby at the weekend, shackled by the defensive responsibility that a conservative, deep-lying collective approach requires.

But as Arsenal travel to Sweden to face FK Ostersunds in the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie, Wilshere is likely to be unbridled with a free-roaming midfield role that allows him to drift throughout the pitch, getting on the ball as frequently as possible, influencing the game significantly and regularly.

He has the chance to establish himself in the competition to be the centrepiece of the midfield with a good performance, which is especially poignant a few days before the Carabao Cup final, a game that both players will certainly be desperate to play in. Perhaps Wenger could partner both in a double-pivot type structure, but he has opportunities to do that this season and has been hesitant to do so.

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I am sure Wilshere was disappointed to see Ramsey slot in ahead of him as soon as he returned. But he must keep working for his opportunities, take them when they come, and try to impress Wenger when he can. Wilshere has done much more than was expected of him. But that does not mean that his work is finished.