JACK WILSHERE
Jack Wilshere has reached a crossroads in his career and his move to
Bournemouth is a desperate last throw of the dice.
The next year will effectively be make-or-break and either
re-establish himself as one of England’s best midfielders or perhaps signal the
end of his time at Arsenal.
It must be seen as a fall from grace for Wilshere because
not long ago it would have been unthinkable for the 24-year-old to be playing
for Bournemouth.
After all, this was the player who set Europe alight back
when Wilshere’s stats and performance even matched Barcelona legends Xavi and
Andres Iniesta when Arsenal beat the Spanish giants in the Champions League at
the Emirates in February 2011.
If that was a career-high defining moment, then the
heartbreak which has followed has taken a huge toll on Wilshere both mentally
and physically.
Beset by injuries causing him to miss Euro 2012, suffer two
long-term problems - including a broken leg which forced him to miss much of
last season - and a worrying drop of form and confidence.
Wilshere went to Euro 2016 but lacked match sharpness and
then started this season at Arsenal well down the pecking order in a growing
list of midfielders.
Granit Xhaka was the big money summer arrival for £30m and
they already have Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Mohamed Elneny and Aaron
Ramsey.
It left Wilshere struggling for games and he looked well off
the pace when he came on as a substitute at Watford on Saturday.
Being left out of the England squad was perhaps the final
straw and the moment that Wilshere knew he had to leave Arsenal to get his
career back on track.
The loan option was first discussed two weeks ago but when
Arsenal finally sanctioned it after further talks there were no shortage of
takers.
In fact, there were 22 offers because those in the game know
that Wilshere is a special talent and if he can regain his form, fitness and
confidence then he will go back to being one of the best midfielders in
England.
Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were the leading contenders in
the Premier League while Watford and West Brom also enquired after Arsenal made
it clear they would not loan him to a top four rival.
Wilshere met with Palace boss Alan Pardew and Bournemouth
manager Eddie Howe in a football agency’s offices in Soho on Tuesday evening.
It was almost like an interview process. Pardew went first and impressed
Wilshere. Howe went next and really blew Wilshere away.
The added attraction of his best pal, former Arsenal youth
team mate Benik Afobe, being at Bournemouth was another big plus as well as
Howe’s style of football, regular games and the chance to shine in the Premier
League.
There were offers from abroad - including Roma and even AC
Milan expressed interest late on - but Arsenal had reservations about dealing
with Italian clubs for various reasons.
But Bournemouth were quick off the mark, happy to pay a
£2million loan fee, all the money up front and showed a willingness that
convinced Arsenal and also Wilshere to move to the South Coast.
Wilshere is being bold to push for the loan move himself. It
would have been easy to stay put but he wants to play and wants to get his
England place back as he is passionate about playing for his country.
But Wilshere has two years left on his contract at the
Emirates, knows the next 12 months will define whether he goes back to Arsenal
for the long term or if it is the beginning of the end for him as an Arsenal
midfielder.
With Wilshere’s determination and spirit, never
write him off and Bournemouth will give him the platform and opportunity to get
back to the top.
