Arsenal Vs CSKA Moscow: Jack Wilshere needs to hit reset button

While his teammates were flourishing in Arsenal’s 4-1 win over CSKA Moscow, Jack Wilshere was floundering. The talented but tortured midfielder needs to hit the reset button.

For all of the wonderful football that Arsenal played in their 4-1 dismantling of CSKA Moscow in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final, there was one man who toiled his way through an ominously anonymous affair, rarely spurting into life with the explosion and vivacity that used to make him such a joy to watch.

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I have long been a proponent of the qualities of Jack Wilshere. His awareness, his intelligence on and off the ball, his tactical nous, technical ability, and creative vision. But on Thursday night, he was far from his best. In fact, he has been far from his best for some time now, vastly overshadowed by the man that he has often rivalled as Arsenal’s great midfield hope, Aaron Ramsey.

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Perhaps the most telling stat from Wilshere’s showing is this: a 73% pass completion rate. Only two outfield players had a worse figure than that, CSKA’s two centre-forwards, Pontus Wernbloom and Ahmed Musa, both of which were dealing with difficult passes and crowded spaces, and were never expected to maintain high ball-retention statistics. For a tempo-setting, distributing central midfielder, it is a very poor statistic indeed.

Added to this was his dribbling, an aspect of his game that is usually so dynamic and energetic. Wilshere attempted four dribbles on the night, per WhoScored. He completed just one. Bearing in mind this is a player who relies on his ability to beat a defender, contorting his body with wonderful balance, agility, and short-space speed to divert would-be tacklers away from the ball, that is another damning statistic.

Those numbers are backed up by the eye test, something that is far more valuable, insightful and accurate than unfounded figures. Although Wilshere should be commended for his efforts — he was always looking for the ball, consistently wanting to make things happen even when his previous attempts fell flat –, this was a very poor performance.

And this comes at a crucial time for both player and club. Contract negotiations are seemingly at an impasse. Wenger had previously admitted, per Wilshere, that he would not be offered a new deal and that he could try to find a new club. He has managed to convinced Wenger of an offer, but it is seemingly one that does not meet his standards.

For Wilshere, then, his performances on the pitch are vital, for his future, his World Cup place in the summer, and for the fate of the team, given that he is currently the starting central midfielder at the beating heart of the formation. And this level of performance against CSKA was not up to scratch. Problematic.

Next: Arsenal Vs CSKA Moscow: 5 things we learned

I think it’s time for him to hit the reset button. Start over. Freshen things up. Go back to basics. Just make the right pass at the right time and move on. He is overcomplicating things and it is bogging him down. It might just cost him his Arsenal career.