The return of Jack Wilshere was billed by some as having the potential to kick-start Arsenal’s season, but his performance at Old Trafford showed that Gunners fans will have to be patient before they see him taking control of games at the highest level.
Thinking back to the England international’s performance against Barcelona at the Emirates in February 2011, his lack of match sharpness was abundantly clear on Saturday.
His sending-off was born out of the frustration of finding himself unable to influence the game, as Arsenal’s midfield were starved of possession. His first booking was a needless lunge on Tom Cleverly after a misplaced pass and his second a studs up challenge on Patrice Evra. Arsene Wenger was dismayed by the decision but the midfielder had been lucky to escape a second yellow for a trip on Robin Van Persie minutes earlier.
Perhaps his manger should have withdrawn the midfielder, as Sir Alex Ferguson did with Cleverly, before the inevitable happened, but Wenger is also desperate for the young man to provide a spark for his team.
In the warm-up the 20-year-old’s determination to make an impact was evident. As Steve Bould took the North Londoners through some keep-ball drills, Wilshere was tearing about with the look of a man possessed. As it turned out, his over eagerness resulted in a red card that stifled any faint hopes of his side getting back into the game and now means he will miss Arsenal’s game against Fulham next Saturday.
Wilshire’s talent is undoubted. England’s deficiencies with the ball were glaringly illustrated in Poland and Ukraine in his absence. His close control and vision will be critical for Roy Hodgson’s side if he can recover his best form in the run up to the World Cup in 2014.
Both Mr Hodgson and Mr Wenger will have to wait a little longer though before the Jack Wilshere of 18-months-ago returns to make his mark in the Premier League and the international scene.
What’s your take? How long will it take for Jack Wilshere to get back to his best? Can he help Arsenal turn their season around?
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He’s only played two games, lets calm down shall we……….
But to answer your question, I reckon another 5-6 games tbh
r u kidding 2 ganes after 17 months
Dont u have any thing better to write about instead wasting our time and congesting this site with these useless and untimed articles?
Are u serious?!!! The kids barely played 2 hours of competitive football after being out nearly a year and a half and you’re wondering why he’s not at his best already!! He’s 20 years old and is being put under way too much pressure to perform! Get off the boys back and let him come good in his own time
Have people got nothing better to do than to slag off jack! Give it another few months before making any judgement. Do u even know anything about football? Learn to spell players names correctly too
jack is just comibg back from 17 months injury spell,dont put much preasure on him unless you have got bothing to right about.