Arsenal and Jack Wilshere: A great mistake?

Jack Wilshere may just prove to be the ghost of Arsenal’s past, did Unai Emery really consider his talent, optimum position and form from last season?

Unai Emery has made an impressive start as Head Coach of Arsenal football club, lauded along with Sven Mislintat for a transfer strategy that actively addresses the weaknesses within the team. A commanding centre-back, combative midfield presence and proven winners have all been acquired (or nearly so), and all before preseason. But the decision regarding Jack Wilshere has certainly raised the most eyebrows.

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It has been a decision largely applauded as the ruthless and unsentimental choice of a top-level manager. But in the same way that Gareth Southgate was influenced by media hype on Wilshere’s injury record (whilst ignoring his outstanding form for periods last season), one could speculate as to whether Jack’s qualities were properly dissected.

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Rewind back to December/January and you will witness a showcase of Wilshere’s real strengths and attributes. Crucial to remember is that in the two years prior, Wilshere’s best form had been hidden to the naked eye by continual mispositioning, first from Eddie Howe and then by Arsene Wenger. Fielding him as an advanced playmaker or in an attacking midfield capacity neither plays to his strengths or acts as a catalyst for his best form.

After all, Wilshere’s unique selling point is his unprecedented technical ability combined with an explosive burst of acceleration that allows him to break away from players and drive his team forwards. Alongside this, a top level touch and varied passing range allow him (at his peak) to act as a controller and dictator of games, whilst his much-revered heart and aggression are suited to the typical central midfield battle. Considering last winter’s form, further backed by his PFA young player of the season in 2010/11, the obvious commonality is his positioning as a deep-lying midfielder that affords space for trademark drives past players and to dictate the pace of a game. In terms of such talent, there is no question that Wilshere could have played at Arsenal for years to come.

The most publicised rationale for the decision centres around Emery’s apparent style of play and Wilshere’s incompatibility.

Emery’s approach revolves around a 4-2-3-1 formation with a triangular centre midfield that combines a defensive midfielder, a second deep-lying midfielder (with the licence to go forward) and an attacking midfielder. The philosophy is built on a high press, dominance of possession and playing through teams with clever passes and combinations in the centre of midfield. No part of this strategy is unsuited to Wilshere given his natural game is to play from deep, where he can retain possession and create, whilst his industry and work-rate are backed by statistics on distance covered.

Certainly, Wilshere could not have expected to command a starting berth with Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey almost certain to be complemented by the energetic, combative and ball recovery expert, Lucas Torreira. And on injury record alone, the decision can be understood. But the real question is if Wilshere’s positioning, unique talent and underplayed form of last season were properly assessed.

Next: Arsenal: 3 replacements for Jack Wilshere

It is easy to laud such a ruthless decision given its pragmatism, especially as it’s been missing for so long. But in this case, and considering Wilshere’s best football and actual position, it begs the question as to whether it was an informed decision or one that might come back to bite.