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Jack Wilshere's entire Arsenal career could hinge on the Europa League
It is often said that opportunity lurks behind every failure and, while Arsenal would be straw-clutching to see much positive in their Europa League participation, it does genuinely present a lifeline to certain players.
Theo Walcott, Alexi Iwobi, Olivier Giroud, Per Mertesacker, Alexis Sanchez and Mohamed Elneny are among those short of first-team minutes but, for one player, it is conceivable that their entire Arsenal career will hinge on this competition.
Jack Wilshere’s last appearance for Arsenal was a 21-minute cameo against Watford 13 months ago, but you have to go back substantially further – all the way to September 2014 – for the last time he played 90 minutes at the Emirates Stadium. Leaving became a serious consideration this summer but the leading clubs were no longer queuing at the door and, after being told by Arsene Wenger that opportunities would most likely come in the Europa League, Wilshere resolved to stay and fight for his future.
Wenger claims to have been impressed by what he has subsequently seen and, with Francis Coquelin nursing a hamstring injury and seven first-teamers rested for Sunday’s match at Chelsea, he is expected to bring Wilshere back into his team against Cologne tomorrow.
“He is very hungry and sharp,” said Wenger. “He is not completely at his best, but he is getting there. He enjoys being back and competing for his place and what I see in training is positive.
“I know Jack well enough. He analyses every training session. He has a football brain so I don’t need to tell him too much but I speak to him about how I see his evolution.”
Wenger’s true feeling on that subject is the pivotal question. He can make as many positive observations as he wants but, with Wilshere out of contract next summer, the clearest indication will be in his subsequent league involvement. What was interesting on Wednesday, though, was Wenger’s certainty that Wilshere’s future still lies in a more advanced midfield role.
Wilshere was identified by England manager Roy Hodgson as better equipped to play a deeper-lying role and that might seem a logical progression given the concern now about his mobility.
The young Wilshere was so special because of that almost Gazza-like ability to ride tackles and burst past opponents but numerous injuries – and perhaps even issues relating to his lifestyle – have blunted this attribute. Yet he is still only 25 and Wenger clearly believes that the old Wilshere, who genuinely did hold his own as a teenager against the Barcelona midfield of Xavi, Sergio Busquets and Andres Iniesta, can re-emerge. By that, he means not just his range of passing but also the speed and strength to sprint past an opponent.
“If he is injury-free he will come back,” said Wenger. “You have certainly seen the video of him when we played against Barcelona. He needs a little burst to get away from people because he can turn the game forward. If you can turn the game forward, you need your legs to get you out of pressure. That will come back – it is coming back in training as well.”
As well as the physical doubts, there are inevitably also questions relating to his mental state. At more than 900, Wilshere has missed more days though injury than anyone in the Premier League since 2011. His red card earlier this season for his reaction to being tackled dangerously late in an Under-23 game was interpreted by some as a sign of simmering frustrations, although not his manager.
“I didn't talk to him at all after that,” said Wenger. “I could understand his reaction; he had been out so many times after suffering bad tackles and had just come back from a fracture.
“We are all different. Some just come back like nothing happened to them; some are traumatised for their whole life. It is like if you have a car accident. Some don't want to drive any more. It depends on the personality. He knows his body well, he has become very professional and learnt how much time it takes to get back to his best so he is more patient.”
It will also be a big night for Olivier Giroud who, as well as a rare start, is aiming to become only the 19th Arsenal player to score 100 club goals. He also admitted on Wednesday just how close he came to leaving this summer. West Ham United, Everton, Lyon and Marseille were all interested, but he decided to compete with Alexandre Lacazette, Danny Welbeck and Sanchez for the main striker position.
“It was a private decision but it’s true I was close to leaving the club,” said Giroud. “After a big reflection with everybody around me, I wanted to stay. I thought the story was not finished at Arsenal.”
Wilshere will be hoping the same.