Wilshere faces make-or-break-season for Gunners

Article by Neil Leverett

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There are just ten days until another Premier League campaign kicks off. For Arsenal, this season holds much potential excitement. Unlike previous summers the Gunners have conducted much of their business early on. Not only that, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger had bucked the trend and has been spending Arsenal's newly established wealth like it was going out of fashion.

Almost all areas of the Arsenal side have been strengthened; Calum Chambers and Mathieu Debuchy in defence; David Ospina in the goalkeeping department and of course the marquee Alexis Sanchez in attack. Wenger is also likely to add a defensive midfielder to the Gunner's ranks. With such additions and squad depth, certain members of the squad may struggle to hold down a regular starting berth, particularly in the hotly contested midfield area. One member in particular is Jack Wilshere.

Having been heralded in 2010 as the future of not only Arsenal but England aswell, Wilshere's dramatic dip in form and relative progress is alarming. Having come through the Arsenal academy and into the first team in 2008 - debuting as the North Londoners youngest ever league player at 16 days and 256 days - Wilshere went on to be named Arsenal's player of the season during the 2010/11 campaign. Since the following season however, the Arsenal midfielder stands (or rather falls) a frustrated figure.

Wilshere's problems began in the summer leading up to the 2011/12 season, when he suffered an innocuous looking injury versus New York Red Bulls during the Emirates Cup a mere fortnight before the season began. It was later discovered that Wilshere had suffered a stress fracture of his ankle. The then 19 year old was initially ruled out for six months and when close to a return suffered a set-back that ruled him out for the remainder of the term and indeed Euro 2012.

Jack Wilshere returned to action versus QPR after a 17 month absence from the top flight. Wilshere, then 20, endured a difficult season once more and due to nagging injuries was in and out of the first team but frequently was instrumental in Arsenal victories. At the end of the campaign, Wilshere underwent minor surgery which saw him miss pre-season for the second year running. Last season, Stevenage-born Wilshere had a larger part to play, but due two a two match ban following an offensive gesture quickly followed by another injury - on this occasion a hairline fracture of his left foot - Wilshere again failed to see out the campaign.

It is clear to see that injury has played a large part in the last three years of the midfielder's career and such injury has clearly hampered, even stinted his progress the player who promised much. But it cannot be injury alone to be blamed. Wilshere's much publicized public altercations and social misdemeanors have called his attitude into question, with the most recent strike being snapped with a cigarette in hand - for the second time - during a stag weekend in Las Vegas.

Wilshere's game has begun to frustrate many Arsenal fans. Whether is be a result of his injury issues, Wilshere has always had the propensity to go down to easily, but lately his game has appeared to operate more from the deck alone. When challenged physically, the midfielder would visit ground more often than not. So is Jack scared of injury again?

When compared with Arsenal's obvious other injury candidate its is curious. Aaron Ramsey, who had suffered an horrific double leg break 18 months previously to Wilshere's initial stress fracture - and whilst his teammate Wilshere injury problems were more niggling ones and not freak/horror tackles - but the polar opposite directions that both careers have headed since spells on the sidelines are staggering. If we had posed the question two years ago with regards as to who was more vital to Arsenal Football Club, few would have said Ramsey. But as we saw last term, the Welshman shrugged off the mental scars and learnt again not only how to play without fear of being tackled, but to take his game to the next level. Ramsey returned a hugely improved player and was pivotal to the Gunner's title ambitions.

If we apply the same philosophy to Jack Wilshere he still has time. Wilshere has taken part in full pre-season for the first time in his Arsenal career as a fully-fledged first teamer. That bodes well for him. Secondly, it took Ramsey a full season to recover fully before he blossomed into the player we all knew he could be. So Wilshere has those two factors on his side. However as his performance versus Monaco at the weekend showed his game has changed and at present time Wilshere lacks the pace to run with the ball, resulting in much of his play slowing down the Gunner's patented fast pasing and with Alexis Sanchez ahead of him on the field in the potential starting eleven, Wilshere may need to adapt his play. If Wilshere can rekindle his ability to not only pass but run at defenders in such a manner that made Barcelona have amorous glances in his direction is search for a replacement for the aging Xavi. He, like Ramsey needs a good run of games to shake off his injury past and remember the player he was. Above all he need good fortune to swing his way.

As mentioned, Arsenal are likely to recruit a defensive-minded midfielder before September the 1st, with names like William Carvalho, Lars Bender and Morgan Schneiderlin being touted as possible partners for Ramsey as the two runners and holders from deep. So where does that leave Wilshere? Primarily an attacking player he could still operate behind the front two or three, but with Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Tomas Rosicky, Lukas Podolski and the soon to return Theo Walcott to compete with, for Wilshere to get back into the starting eleven as a regular, the midfielder will need to buckle down and return to his best and quickly. Without putting too fine a point on it, for Jack Wilshere, the upcoming 2014/15 Premier League campaign has the 22 year old under huge pressure to perform and for his future, this campaign may indeed be make-or-break.

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