Jack Wilshere is one of Arsenal’s key players.
It’s happened quite suddenly.
We now understand why Owen Coyle was so keen to extend his loan at Bolton.
On what we’ve seen recently, I’m prepared to believe that story about what Wenger allegedly said to Danny Fiszman three years ago : “He’s better than Fabregas at the same age.”
An instinctive and cunning footballer, Jack Wilshere is still learning, still doing a few things in his own penalty area that he shouldn’t do, and it’s important to protect him from burn-out.
But the Arsenal team has now reached a point where, as I see it, if Fabregas doesn’t play, Wilshere has to.
What Wilshere brings to the team is more important than the fact that, at 18, he isArsenal’s least experienced player.
He was always going to be crucial in Belgrade, and that’s why Wenger rested him for the West Brom game.
When Arsenal were 2-0 down, he brought Jack on, West Brom scored again, Arsenal got two goals back, then got on a plane to Belgrade, where Jack played an anchor role in a 3-1 victory.
Suddenly, the teenager has become spinal, along with Vermaelen and Fabregas. The team should be built round four players, those three plus the goalkeeper that Wenger didn’t buy. At least one piece of Arsenal’s spine is still missing.
In general, I don’t pay much attention to what footballers say, but I always read Fabregas. Two years ago I was slightly dubious when Fabregas said the 16-year-old from Hitchin did not need his advice.
In September 2008, Fab4 said, “I do not think Jack needs any advice because his family are taking care of him and his head is in the right place. If it went the other way and you could see things were not going right, then maybe you could say something to him, but we are not worried about Jack because he has got the qualities and the head to do it.”
I’m now beginning to see why Fabregas said that. When is the captain coming back ?
Last night I saw a film about an inspiring musician.