Last night’s international friendly was a somewhat entertaining game, but one which will have raised concerns among Arsenal fans – not only because Jack Wilshere was withdrawn at half time after an awkward fall in the first-half, but during those 45 minutes, he was instructed to play a deep lying defensive midfield role, in which he struggled.
Wilshere has proven himself to be a key member of the Arsenal starting line-up this season. The 19-year-old has been playing in the middle of a central three, working hard both in the tackle, and also complementing the strike force when possible.
However, Fabio Capello seems to feel as if Wilshere would be best suited to a deeper role just in front of the back four, instead of allowing him to demonstrate his clear thirst to create and assist at the other end of the field. Whilst Wilshere was neat and tidy against Denmark in Copenhagen last night, the youngster frequently failed to track runners, leading to numerous Danish chances. Evidently, this was caused by his complete lack of experience in the role.
Therefore one could argue that it was actually a positive move from Capello to give him a lesson (in a non-competitive game) in how to perform well in that position. Perhaps the experience Wilshere gets at international level could possibly help his performances for Arsenal, however bizarre that may sound. In almost every case, it is experience gained at club level which translates into an England call-up, but in Wilshere’s case, the opposite seems to be true.
A large proportion of Arsenal fans do want to see Wilshere playing well for both club and country. Whilst for the majority, club form is seen as vastly more important than international performances, there is still a lingering pride that one can gain from seeing a player employed by your club succeeding for England, especially given that so few are able to do so. Thus it is above all frustrating how Capello seems to have ear-marked Wilshere for a role that, in all likelihood, he shall never fulfil for one of the best sides in European football. It has been a problem that has plagued the national team for years; square pegs in round holes, and Wilshere might well become a victim of this particular plague.
Wilshere will now return to the Emirates and prepare himself for the two vital home games that lie ahead, providing his knee is in good enough shape.
Wilshere will surely return to his rightful place in midfield when Arsenal take on arguably the best team in the world next Wednesday evening in the Champions League. One can only hope that Capello is watching, and also that Wilshere continues to prove his worth.
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In my opinion Wilshere had a decent game, but he can not play a holding midfield role. Wilshere loves to attack and create things, so using him as a holding midfielder is pointless. The simple fact is unless Fabio Capello puts Wilshere in the right position then we’ll never see his performances for Arsenal be re-created for England.
The time for Lampard, Gerrard, Barry and co is over, if they couldn’t win anything for their country before what makes them think they can win anything now. It’s time for a new generation of players and let them play together. Of course there going to lose games because they need time to gell, if you keep on relying on the old players and don’t give the youth time to gell then England will never be successful.
The problem is with England they want instant succuss, but it doesn’t work like that. Me, personally I’d rather England try to gell a new team and lose games because you can’t really on old players to win you things.