Arsenal’s score draw with West Brom at the weekend was the club’s first blip since their opening day defeat to Aston Villa. Doubtless it will have some pundits smugly suggesting that this will be the stage in the season where it all falls apart for the Gunners. That this kind of performance and result will suck the life out of the club.
Even the most optimistic Arsenal fan must be somewhat nervous at this point in time. It would have been nice if the Gunners could carry over the momentum they had built up into the International break.
They won’t exactly have to start from scratch in their next game against Norwich City on the 19th, but they will have to play better to get a result.
It’s not like we’re in crisis mode here. Arsenal are currently sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League table. But if the Gunners want to win the thing, these kind of games, games against West Brom, Norwich City, etc, are the kind of games that they should be winning.
But they can be tough. There are no weak teams in the Premier League and it often takes real character for big teams like Arsenal (and Manchester United, who also suffered at the hands of West Brom) to come out on top.
And when it comes to character, who exemplifies this better than Jack Wilshere? Arsene Wenger singled him out for praise after the West Brom game:
“He had trouble today to find the rhythm. But he has character as well. He doesn’t give up, he continues to play his game. I believe he was fouled a few times, pushed over and didn’t get the fouls he deserved.” (Source: The Mirror)
Whilst he’s come under some criticism for smoking (something he’s since denied), Jack Wilshere remains an important player for the Gunners.
He may not have had his best game at the Hawthorns, but his goal was well taken and one of his passes into Olivier Giroud’s feet in the second half, was simply sublime.
The rise of Aaron Ramsey and the addition of Mesut Ozil may have taken some of the attention away from Jack. But he’s too good to be kept out in the cold and will bite back with a vengeance this season.
When he’s fully fit again, he’ll be the man that leads this Arsenal team onto bigger and better things. In a period of time when the Gunners need to show character, Jack’s your lad.
What’s your take? Is Jack Wilshere ready for the big time?
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Jack Wilshere…. We are English we tackle hard. So why was it at the Hawthornes he spent most of his time on the ground saying to the ref the nasty man’s hurt me ?