View From The Sphere

Could Wilshere ‘rest’ harm first-team role?

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Jack Wilshere has been a key figure in Arsenal’s midfield this season, and has featured in every Premier League fixture, apart from three in which he served a suspension after receiving a red card against Birmingham City last month.

The young midfielder has produced some impressive displays within the Premier League and of course across Europe, which has no doubt enhanced the youngster’s reputation and chances of being a first-team regular throughout the course of the season. However, will Jack Wilshere remain a first-team regular once all midfield absentees are back in the fray?

This past Saturday, Arsene Wenger admitted to Sky Sports that the 18-year-old will have to be rested once other players are made available in order to keep him from overtiring:

“There is a lot of competition in midfield, but less than up front at the moment. We have Abou Diaby out, Aaron Ramsey still out, so basically we have Alex Song, Denilson and Wilshere.”

The Frenchman goes on to say:

“If you look at the number of games Jack has played, you would have never expected that. However, given what is happening with him, at some stage I will have to rest him.”

Many fans will believe that Wenger does genuinely see Jack Wilshere as a contender for a starting position, but having read the comments Le Professuer has made, many (including me) may begin to feel a bit nervous for the midfielder’s position within the team.

Wilshere has been able to get into the Arsenal starting line-up because of injuries to Abou Diaby and of course Aaron Ramsey. However, would Wilshere be getting games under his belt if theses players were available?

Abou Diaby has managed to make 7 league appearances and bag a goal for Arsenal this season, but has been plagued with a number of injuries which has forced him out of the team. Aaron Ramsey continues to regain his full fitness after enduring a horrific leg break against Stoke 9 months ago. Nonetheless, the 19-year-old will more than likely be introduced slowly into first team action by Wenger as opposed to throwing him straight in.

There’s no doubt about it, Wilshere is performing very well for the Gunners, so much so that the midfielder has been called up for international duty this week by Engloan coach Fabio Capello. I just think (and Arsenal fans will have a different opinion on this) that if more established midfielders were on hand, then we wouldn’t be seeing much of Wilshere at all.

I can understand why Wenger will at some point rest Wilshere. The midfielder is still very young and learning his trade, and of course too many games at such an early stage of his career can affect him both physically and mentally. Of course a rest will mean that Wilshere will have to hope that whilst he is out, he is not overtaken in the midfield pecking order. If his replacement does well and performs consistently to a higher level, then Wilshere may have a few problems getting back in the side.

At the end of the day it’s Wenger’s call, and whatever he decides the Arsenal faithful will fully be behind him as they always are. However, the current first-team have done exceptionally well up to now, and many fans will state that if it’s not broken then don’t fix it Wenger.

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3 comments

  • Dave says:

    Personally I don’t think Wenger should change a winning team, but if Wilshere is feeling the strain then he should rest him. I think he is better than Diaby and Denilson so I think he would easily get back into the team if he rested. Mind you saying that, Wenger does love playing Diaby and Denilson so u never know.

    I hope if he does rest him, he puts him back in the team when he is rested because he is that good.

  • George says:

    Wilshere should continue to play even if the likes of Diaby, Denilson, and Ramsey are fit. The teenager is a genius and if Wenger decides to rest him then i beleieve he will lose his confidence. He’s our new liam brady and in my opinion much better than diaby and denilson,. I would be very upset to see Jack rested because he has been one of our best players so far thi season.

  • andrew says:

    Have to say that in my opinion young Jack is a better footballer than diaby and denilson who both have never seemed to merit their place in the team. I’m a believer that no teeneager is a ‘genius’ as everybody makes out..especially the bitish media..but..the boy has talent and if he keeps his head down and works hard he can be a very important player for years to come. I am a fan of Jack and hope he progresses quickly and in the ‘Arsenal’ way

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