Arsenal: Jack Wilshere ‘guarantees’ a major step backwards

Arsenal and Jack Wilshere don’t look like they will be synonymous for much longer. And that’s smart, because anything more would be a step backwards.

It seemed impossible that Jack Wilshere would ever leave Arsenal. Everything about Arsenal was Jack Wilshere and vice versa. It was the perfect match in every sense, from the lack of reached potential, to the true mastery of when things fit together just right.

I know I’ve said this before, but this past year was his moment to prove that he was ready to be a reliable member of the first team. He played more minutes than any recent season and his injuries were minute.

He didn’t prove anything, and it was a contract year, with a new boss incoming. Which is a pretty bad situation, as is now being proven.

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Wilshere’s contract talks have supposedly derailed after an extension, that was primarily merit-based, was offered. Rumor had it that Wilshere was holding out for something with more guarantees.

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What the rumors are now saying is that Wilshere has been told that he is not a big part of Unai Emery‘s plans, and can be given no guarantees in terms of playing time.

That’s hard to process, given the emotional attachment that we all inevitably have to Wilshere, but in terms of what is best for the club, this is absolutely best.

The last thing in the world Unai Emery needs to do is go handcuffing himself to any player. He is a new manager to the club, with (as of yet) none of his own players following him. These guys are all new to him and, detailed dossier or not, he is going to need time to figure them out.

That being the case, there is nothing to gain by this Arsenal brain trust limiting Emery’s creativity by tying down players to a certain number of games. Because if it falls short, they can get disgruntled, and we know what a disgruntled player can amount to (Alexis…)

This is a season of creative expression for Emery, and finding his stride as then manager of this massive club. He needs to be able to explore that on his own terms, with no one else telling him who can and cannot feature based on contract requirements.

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It’s a bummer, but this is the right move. Guaranteeing anyone anything is a step backwards for a club that should be moving exclusively forward.