Is the time ticking on this Arsenal midfielder’s career?

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Another season goes by, another season on the side-lines for Jack Wilshere. It’s a sad reality that the player; once regarded as the best English talent since Paul Scholes, has spent more time recovering from injuries than fulfilling the great potential that he has. Since breaking onto the scene as a prodigious 16-year-old, we have seen brief glimpses of Wilshere’s talent, but never enough. Now 23, the England international has suffered yet another injury this season, an injury where he was scheduled to return form in two months and now Wenger has revealed he won’t be available until mid-March.

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When Jack Wilshere broke onto the scene, both Arsenal and England thought they had unearthed an incredible talent. Instead of sending scouts far and wide, The Gunners had found a player with incredible technical skill right on their doorstep. Wilshere has the pace, skill, and technical ability that we often drool over foreign players for. Such was his high ability that at such a tender age, he was earmarked as Arsenal’s future and present. In fact, there was one game in particular where Jack Wilshere announced himself in a big way – the 2011 home tie against Barcelona.

In a night when Arsenal were clear underdogs, Wilshere stood toe to toe with two of the best midfielders of their generation – Xavi and Iniesta. There aren’t many teams who withstood the Catalonian giants at the time, and there aren’t many players who could showcase their talents to such an extent that the highest compliment could be paid, ‘he could play for Barcelona’. At that point, Wilshere became a first team starter, future captain and fulcrum of Arsenal’s midfield.

Fast forward to now, and that player we once saw has gone missing. This campaign, he was ruled out of the ‘Community Shield’ due to a hair-line fracture in his leg – an injury quoted by Wenger as only “a few weeks out”. That same injury needed surgery, and only now are we talking about a future return. Wilshere was then scheduled for a January return; as quoted from the player himself, but now, via Sam Hall of ‘The Independent’, he is not going to be in contention until March. This injury follows a long line of injuries; particularly those based around the ankle, that have plagued his career since 2011. Although many regard Wilshere’s injury problems with complete bemusement, Arsene Wenger puts it down to one problem – his style of play.

Jack Wilshere does not hold back from a challenge, but furthermore he keeps the ball close to him and encourages challenges on himself. Wenger even admitted that his ability to play “without a handbrake” is one of his biggest strengths, but also his downfall. Although his style of play is his strength, if he constantly stagnates his career, is it really worth it?

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Once Wilshere returns, he will want to play in order to help Arsenal win that elusive title, but also to gain a place in Hodgson’s England team. The wise action would be to ease himself into playing club football, miss the Euros and rest for next year; a painful decision, yet maybe a crucial one in the long term. As is the norm in England, Wilshere will more than likely be thrown into the international action in the summer and be liable for another injury next year. This is the time where Wenger may have to put his foot down. Wilshere’s Arsenal future hangs in the balance. Last summer, there were rumours of a move away from the club, and now that might not be too far away.

Arsenal have moved on since Wilshere arrived. Players like Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Francis Coquelin are the essential players in Arsenal’s quest for silverware and it is debatable if Wilshere could displace any of them. Wilshere is simply not reliable enough and does hold a certain place in the Arsenal team anymore. Although there are rumours of a new contract for the player, the hierarchy at The Emirates and Wilshere must to decide whether that is indeed plausible. If not; for the sake of the club, it might be time to part ways.

The player once described by Xavi as “the future of English football”, needs to shake the label of “talent” and become the present. Wilshere’s career is at a crossroads. Getting him back from injuries is a Sisyphean task, the player is not reliable and is at risk of being England’s past rather, than their present or future. Hopefully Jack Wilshere’s name will not be forever linked to another wasted English talent – a sorry statement for a player only 23 years of age.

Featured Image: All rights reserved by Ronnie Macdonald