14 Apr 2014 08:24:17
I wanted to gauge the opinion of the fans on Jack Wilshere. There have been lots of articles recently about injuries and what we would be capable of with a full squad. It’s my opinion that as well as a new manager in the summer we should look to reshape our midfield. For some reason Jack Wilshere is one of the first names on the team sheet, I cannot understand why…. Let’s examine this from a ‘moneyball’ perspective; he does not score many goals, does not create many assists, does not win many tackles, does not supply any crosses into the box and on a whole doesn’t really contribute much. Yes he runs about a lot and makes lots of nice tippy tappy passes but what is the end result? Ramsay has come of age, he now looks to have put his injuries behind him and is delivering on the promise that brought him to Arsenal. Ozil, despite sometimes looking uninterested does create a good number of assists and lifts the whole team when he plays well. Walcott creates chances, scores and offers the team another dimension. Arsenal are rich with great midfield players but for me I would cash in on Wilshere while his stock is high and use the money to buy a hard as nails holding midfielder. We’ve seen this season how key Flamini has been, his grit and determination often pushing the team over the line. With the greatest of respect to him, he’s not the best player in this position but you cannot question his passion. Imagine an Arsenal midfield next year with Ox-Ramsay-Bender-Walcott, this offers much better shape, pace and attacking guile. Ozil could play in his favoured No10 supplying hopefully a new striker.
What do you guys think about this, get rid of an injury prone player who doesn’t really contribute much but at the same time could probably command upwards of £25M in transfer fees?

1.) 14 Apr 2014
I can't see Wilshere ever leaving. He will be a great player if he can play injury and pain free. His progression has been massively hampered but just one injury free season will see him jump up a few levels and he is still only young.

2.) 14 Apr 2014
Jack's got the ability to be a star of the game but does he have the attitude?
Ramsey Ox Henderson Barkley and even Huddlestone have all over taken him this season.
He needs to step out of the bubble he's been in since a kid that has lead him to believe he is the new Mr Arsenal by right and find a true friend who will lay it on the line as it is .
Joe Cole and Joey Barton or Inesta and Xavi which group he joins is still in his hands but the clock is ticking.
If he shuts his mouth and loses the petulant attitude he has every chance of being remembered by how good he was and not how good he could have been

3.) 14 Apr 2014
@Davros "I can't see Wilshere ever leaving'.

This is more often than not the problem with Arsenal. Wilshere doesn't get to pick and choose if he stays. The manager should be big enough to get rid of players who under perform - Bendtner being the classic example.

I don't think JW offers enough to warrant a place in any Arsenal starting 11 so I'd be looking to get rid, that is unless we decide Diaby needs a full time bed mate.

4.) 14 Apr 2014
G62.

Absolutely agree with you. He does have the potential to join the Xavi / Iniesta group, he has all the attributes to be very very good.

As you say it is now down to him.

He needs time without injury and time playing consistently with a group of players in the middle of the park with no injuries.

Let us not forget that Pep Guardiola stated an interest twovseasons ago for Barca. So he can't be that bad.

J

5.) 14 Apr 2014
I disagree. Wilshere, statistically may not be the best, but when we are down he is the one busting a gut trying to get us back in it. He shows leadership, in a squad that at the moment, lacks leadership. *IF he can stay injury free, you'll see all the stats start building up aswell.

6.) 14 Apr 2014
Im still waiting to see the real jack wiltshire, if there is one.

7.) 14 Apr 2014
Hi JinKent,

I think you will find that Pep said his 'B' team had many players like Jack. Hardly a ringing endorsement and certainly not bracketing him with Xavi and Iniesta.

8.) 14 Apr 2014
14 Apr 2014 13:19:43
Ramsay has come of age, he now looks to have put his injuries behind him and is delivering on the promise that brought him to Arsenal.

I always find it amusing that we can't wait to allow the same to happen with Jack. Ramsey himself also fitted perfectly into your money ball comparison, ran around a lot but contributed little.

Jack showed before injury playing for both us and England what kind of player he is.

I really don't understand the rush to get rid of him, I think this latest injury lay off will actually have benefited his rehab from the ankle injury.

Ramsey has shown despite the want of thousands to get rid of him last season that you can get over it and more so if you have an unquestionable ability. Which in my opinion he has in abundance and I'm for believing he will show his true worth.

9.) 14 Apr 2014
The competition for the midfield places between Jack, Ox, ozil, Ramsey, should enable them to get better. However we need a defensive midfielder besides flamini to rotate and give us depth.

Flamini or if we are lucky a DM, will sit back and enable one of jack or ramsey to move forward and have an impact.

Cazorla and Ozil should be the no10 position rotated, if Cazorla wishes to leave, sell him and we have Jack or ramsey to backup that position.

however besides Walcott, Gnabry and Ox for the wing position we really have no depth there.

Poldi is not a winger we need to buy a draxler its a must or even a reus ( I know its not happening)

upfront giroud is ok as a backup against the lesser teams but we need a mobile, agile, quick, athletic forward.

If Josip Drmic is truly a target I can see some positive change, but we still need a no1 striker.

at the back we need to invest a bit more in depth and we need competition for Sczesny. I have no idea why Fabianski did not play more, he seems the better keeper, calm, more commanding and while you may think I credit him for his penalty saves, I actually credit him for his positioning on every counter wigan had against us.

10.) 14 Apr 2014
@JennyTaylor

Ramsay has had one horrific, career threatening injury. The prolonged comeback from that can be excused.

JW has injury after injury. He's brittle and to often broken. Even at his very best he does not score many or create many assists. Doctors have noted this will likely continue throughout his career as he suffers from bow legs.

I suppose my point should have been, would Arsenal fans welcome selling JW to replace him with a midfielder we actually need?

11.) 14 Apr 2014
14 Apr 2014 16:17:18
Hi Sad_face,

I'm not of the opinion that it will take 5 years for Jack to show his worth.

Next season will be huge for him to go a season without injury and play a full part, including rotation in our challenge for better things.

I'm just of the opinion he will come good, I hope I'm not wrong because he has so much ability.

12.) 14 Apr 2014
Sorry all but I've got to say that yes Jack is a very good player when injury free and would have been a great player if he kept injury free. Unfortunately, he never hardly is injury free therefore I think it's about time we start to realise this and not let our hearts rule out heads here. I know I've been saying it for ages and people hate me for saying it. We have to start to wake up and smell the coffee Jacks not just started to get a few injuries its been going on for years. We have to start thinking about replacements for some of our players. How long are we going to stand there holding the door wide open? . We need to move forward. If we think we can keep on getting players to fill in while we are waiting for our main players to recover then we are seriously dissalusional. We've been doing this for ages and its about time we started to liven up our ideas.

13.) 14 Apr 2014
Goldboy, h
You sometimes get stick for your posts but what I respect about you is you go where others fear to tread.

Totally agree with you about Jack and until he is injury free, for me, the jury is out.