When was he last at his best? After his debut season at 19, he hasn't hit the heights since. Granted the injuries haven't helped, but I'd equally argue that he is more susceptible to getting injured due to his style of play. And when he has been fit and in the team, he's not been influential enough.
I would say just before he got injured Wilshere was starting to look excellent again. Was also surprise how decent he looked as a DM for England. People say its not his natural position but I think he would be a better job there for us than Flamini and with a little coaching he could flourish in that position. But either way as a Box to Box/AMF or DM he is still a quality little player.
There's soo many things wrong with this comparison. Firstly our start of the Season was horrendous. We could therefore make a similar comparison with Ozil. Our lack of a DM and poor defensive performances where the real reason for our terrible start to this campaign. I thought Wilshere was one our better players during this period.
As you may well expect, I disagree as usual. So what if our start to the season was horrendous? He was still part of that team. I am unfamiliar as to what Wilshere has achieved in the side. He isn't good defensively because his tackling + ball retention is below par. He doesn't contribute enough going forward either. He's a decent distributor of the ball and occasional makes a threatening foray forward, but his decision making in the final third leaves a lot to be desired. So I'm lost at what he does for the side. Secondly, no you absolutely cannot make the same comparison with Ozil. Look at the overall statistics for the past two years with Wilshere in and out the side and you'll still see how much higher our win % is without him in the side. It is NOT purely a coincidence, contrary to what you believe. We've seen in the past how talented he is, but he needs to start applying himself on the pitch and alter his all-action style of play, becoming more tactically and positionally aware, if he wants to be a mainstay in the side.
I agree, he was looking really good before he got injured again. Also you just have to look at that goal against Norwich last season as an example of the skill and tenacity that a fit and on form Wilshere has got. These people saying he's no good are deluding themselves, the guy is a top quality creative midfielder. But his injuries are hampering his career and he might not make it at the top level as a result, but the talent is undeniabley there.
Classic Arsenal fans. Things starting to go well so what do we do? Rag on a young injured player.... How about we let him recover and have an extended run in the squad before we send him off down the knackers. Have people learned nothing from Ramsey's long term injury? I mean, I know it was far more severe but time-wise it's similar. Also, bit harsh to whoever it was who said Arteta is finished!
You're using one goal as an example of his qualities? Given that his goalscoring and assist making numbers are relatively low... what is your definition of 'creative'? What is he creating that makes him 'top quality'? He scores and assists at a lower rate than Jordan Henderson for example... Wilshere last three seasons 66 starts 8 goals (0.12 per start) 10 assists (0.15 per start) Henderson last three seasons 102 starts 15 goals (0.15 per start) 21 assists (0.21 per start) Fabregas (in the three seasons leading up to turning 23 like Wilshere) 112 starts 37 goals (0.33 per start) 48 assists (0.43 per start) It seems quite apparent he's not a top quality 'creative' midfielder (unless he miraculously improves a whole load while other players around him don't). He's merely a good one in the same league of players like Jordan Henderson. Cesc Fabregas is a top quality creative midfielder. Jack Wilshere is not. Subjective. I'm denying it for example. IMO you're overrating him, just like the British media do. A good English football player isn't brilliant just because he's English and/or plays for Arsenal. Why can't a player be good without being brilliant? He's good and a nice squad player to have but has three better central midfielders ahead of him.
What purpose is served by saying how **** one of our own injured players is? Especially when he can't go out and prove how good he is on the pitch. Surely we should be celebrating our strength in depth and how well our midfielders have been playing in Wilshere's absence, not using it as a stick to beat him with and using it to find further negative things about the team. We've gotten good results the last few games, the cup is looking more promising after the weekend, we've got a favourable draw in the CL - we've just strenghened in a much needed area with a seemingly v.promising player, a week ahead of the close of the window, we've signed a very exciting and promising player as well, and Coq, a previous cast off of a player is making our weakest position his own, and lessening the need for a replacement. There's a lot to be rosy about at this particular minute!
Who on this thread has said he's "no good"? The point about Wilshere is that although he has some good qualities and he is talented, he doesn't contribute enough to the team offensively and defensively and we play better football & get better results when he is not in the team. All the statistics show it. Even if you want to disregard the statistics, observe his performances objectively and you will see how ineffective he has been overall. This doesn't mean he's a bad player or he's useless; it just means other players have been outperforming him and he isn't suited to the system we play. I'm sorry but as it stands, when he comes back, Wilshere should not get back into the first team unless one of our current midfielders suffers a long-term injury.
No-one has said he's s**t though have they... you're just over-dramatizing things. All I've seen is comments about how he's probably our weakest central midfielder, as highlighted by our results with and without him starting, as well as his low goal and assist records. Being called the weakest is not the same thing as being called s**t.
Don't distort the argument. One person has called him **** (Arsenal87). Although I don't agree, I can't understand why we shouldn't have a debate about our midfielders and who should be in the side when everyone is fit. By your own admission, it shows our strength in depth, so why should we not discuss it?
It would appear that Wilshere is now the hate figure amongst Arsenal fans.I wonder who it will be next season
My point wasn't about debating things, it was why when we are in a mini-purple patch, we are picking up a player who has been injured for ages, and doing it in such a negative light. As you say and I have said our strength in depth is amazing - so why not an article praising this, and saying how our strength and depth will be even better when Wilshire comes back and we'll be overflowing with midfielders? I'm just asking where all the negativity is coming from.
What about the other players who were out of the team when Wilshere was playing this season ?Maybe that had something to do with our results.
