After his extended run of fine performances in the centre of the Arsenal midfield this season many in the Football world such as Jamie Redknapp have hailed young Jack Wilshere as ‘England’s answer to Xavi.’ Current England manager; Fabio Capello stated that ‘He will be England captain one day, he is a real leader. I saw how he spoke with the referee [against Denmark] and how he spoke to the other players. It is difficult to find someone so young with such a big personality.’ The Italian also claimed ‘He [Wilshere] is the best young midfielder I have seen for his age.’
However, I personally feel that his performances, especially in the Premier League have been somewhat over-exaggerated by both the media and the ever-praising Arsene Wenger. Arsenal usually employ a five man midfield of Song, Fabregas, Nasri, Wilshere and then either Walcott or Arshavin on one of the flanks. With Song protecting the back four, rarely venturing forward and Nasri plus Walcott or Arshavin working the channels and linking up with Van Persie, it leaves Fabregas and Wilshere in the centre of the park.
As we know, Fabregas runs the length of the pitch for ninety minutes, tracking back and playing an instrumental role in nearly all of Arsenal’s attacking moves. Although he is supremely confident on the ball and not shy of taking on a shot at goal, Wilshere is rarely the main driving force behind an attack. Instead he seems to be more adept at ‘recycling’ the ball, making neat one-two passes in the middle of the pitch.
Whilst this may be very effective in a midfield packed full of technical players such as Nasri and Fabregas, I doubt very much he will be able to play a similar role in England’s midfield where the ever-present Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard command a starting role. Some people say he can fill replace Gareth Barry as the holding midfielder, however, should this be the case, both the fans and the media will undoubtedly ask why ‘England’s answer to Xavi,’ and future captain is restricted to protecting the back four. It is also no sure thing that Wilshere will earn a regular spot in the starting XI due to the emergence of Andy Carroll, who in previous fixtures, looked as if he linked up well with Rooney.
Wilshere also possesses a fiery temper and has often made some rash challenges, the most notable of which earned him a straight red card against Birmingham in October last year and the young Stevenage born lad was also arrested last August over an incident outside a London nightclub. Although he is young and may be easily led astray, when you compare him to foreign ‘prodigies’ such as Messi, Iniesta or Xavi, all of which, possess extremely calm temperaments it is evident that Wilshere’s fierce passion and rash decision making, coupled with his feisty demeanor may have repercussions, especially in the European and International game where a straight red card can be picked up for as little as a slight push in the chest.
However, the most fundamental reason why, in my mind Wilshere is still not the English equivalent of Xavi or Iniesta is that he simply does not score enough goals. He managed to find the net only once in the premier league last year, despite making 35 appearances, mainly as a creative midfielder. When this statistic is compared to Iniesta, who managed 8 goals from 34 appearances, it is clear who provides the bigger threat to opposition goalkeepers.
Although the young Arsenal midfielder is probably the best English talent to emerge in recent years, with the possible exception of Andy Carroll, should he live up to his £35 million price tag, I still believe that Wilshere still has a long way to go before he is comparable to the likes of Xavi and Iniesta. There is no doubt that the potential is there, however if he wishes to live up to his appraisals, his next goal must surely be to hold down a regular spot on the England teamsheet. A task easier said than done, when you have Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard as your competitors.
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Every so often you read an article that is so so so poor it makes you cry. On top the points made by Ramy above Wilshere is still developing in every area. Harry’s point was that is the player he could be for england.
Get a hold of yourself and think about what you’re writing before spilling out a load of diatribe that, in a world of awful internet blogs, hits a new low.
It is also no sure thing that Wilshere will earn a regular spot in the starting XI due to the emergence of Andy Carroll, who in previous fixtures, looked as if he linked up well with Rooney.
Andy Carroll = striker
Jack Wilshere = deep lying playmaker
seriously, as other people have suggested, DO SOME FECKING RESEARCH SON.
i think he was implying that if carroll plays up top with rooney, there will only be 4 midfield players, which means wilshere has to play ahead of gerrard/lampard
‘Easier said than done wn there is lampard and Gerrad’ bullshit ,football isn’nt abt past reputation its abt how u perfom 90 min on the pitch ,on current form lampard has no match 4 wilshire its a no contest.u know no shit abt arsenal,they play 2 holding midfielders wilshire n’ song who take turns 2 join the attack.xavi is hardly prolific he pull the strings thats wat he is known 4
I stopped reading after I read
“With Song protecting the back four, rarely venturing forward”
as it clearly proves you have watched very few Arsenal matches.
In the next dozen England matches just see how many Wilshere starts compared to Lampard or Gerrard
Have you even watched Arsenal this season?!
Jack plays as a deep lying playmaker, and often starts attacks by breaking forward, as opposed to just “recycling” the ball.
As for Fat Frank being competition for Jack… Do me a favour!
yu appear to see the duopoly(if they could be considered that at all) of lampard & gerrad as being unbreakeble. three and counting now england managers have failed t make their combination tick. they were together when england failed with swen at his last WC. they failed when england failed to qualify for europe two yyears latter. last year in sa, where where they when england exhibited a serious lack of ideas, where were its midfielders, specifically gerrad and lampard? so why do ou think they are indespensible.
yu circle curiously arround the issue of indispline about jw. if yu do not know the england team say so. rooney, arguebly their best player for the past few years is no missus to misbehaviour on and off the pitch. gerrad only survived jail thanjs to celebrity. captain jt has had run ins including bribery, gambling,for at least his early life at chelsea he survived red cards due probably to his big name but used his hand to control the ball more than any defender i can think of. where are they in your excuse of a story?? lastly, ironically, you make no flirting mention whatsoever of andy carrols darker than night wicked side. are yu sure he could survive a CRB record check?
…to never click on this website again. Where was Xavi when he was 19? Was he starting games as a first teamer? There is no comparison.
you know nothing about football. Nothing else to add.
of all the posts and comments ive read about arsenal players, comparisons and talent. this is easily the most stupid. what wer you thinkin when you wrote this. Wilshere is everything you want in a plaer. his temper on the field is a sign of passion and determination. He will not be bullied or pushed around. what age is xavi and iniesta?? to compare there stats this season, in an easier league i might add to a 19 year old in the premier league who plays deeper than both is pure stupid.
sorry mate but this article is just pure crap
fail.
Good to be on the air dis morning,all know xavi and iniester are nice players but to me jack is a better of them.The reason is this when Xavi and Inester are at Jack’s age nobody even know whether they exist but Jack is 19,commanding first team shirt in both club and country now and all the part of the world has known him.In conclusion I’ll say just give more 4 season he will concer the world and that’s what Xavi with Inester could not do.
I think RAMY hits the nail on the head with his comments.
The funny thing is the title of the post is that JW19 is not englands answer to xavi and your reasoning is because he does not score enough goals and you should only be comparing those two players yet in the paragraph when you compare any stats you actually compare Iniesta’s stats to JW19 instead of the Xavi’s. what’s that all about…realising that your whole post does not add up.
Bullshit article. This coming from a Chelsea fan. Jack is the best talent English football has seen since the emergence of Wayne Rooney. And Carroll is nowhere near as talented. Wilshere held his own against the likes of Barca, how could you forget?
you chat shit! I have never heard the words exaggerated and arsene wenger in the same sentence. Jack wilshere was on the fringes for a while and showing pure class and no1 new about him for two years. Why do you assume and make accusations you cannot backup. And btw wilshere will easily excede xavi’s ability. Dickhead