“It’s definitely an ankle sprain.” When Jack Wilshere limped off in the second half of Arsenal’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea on Wednesday night, hearts were in mouths among the Gunners fanbase. Arsene Wenger’s confirmation following the full-time whistle wouldn’t have eased nerves, though the Frenchman went on to add: “It’s his good ankle so I’m quite positive.”
Wilshere is expected to miss Arsenal’s trip to Bournemouth on Sunday with the issue and it comes at just the wrong time for both player and club. In the final months before his current deal at the Emirates Stadium expires, Wilshere is very much playing for a new contract with the north London side. Having been on the Arsenal books for the best part of 20 years now, the midfielder is hoping to pen a new deal sooner rather than later, but his latest knock is yet another setback as he looks to prove his long-term fitness with the club.
Aaron Ramsey’s hamstring problem presented Wilshere with a chance to consolidate a first-team spot on the back of a disappointing loan stint with Bournemouth. The 26-year-old looked to be nearing his best form again too having provided a crucial assist for Alexis Sanchez’s second and Arsenal’s third in a 3-2 win over Crystal Palace, not to mention his stunning strike in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea last month.
In Ramsey’s absence, Wilshere has been the forward-thinking central midfielder in Wenger’s favoured 3-4-2-1 formation this season, with the England international providing the attacking thrust from the middle of the park. Indeed, a return of 3.2 successful dribbles per 90 is the best of all Arsenal players in the Premier League this season, while an additional 63.8 passes per 90 also ranks high.
Having been named captain against Chelsea in midweek, it gave a hint as to how highly Wenger still rates Wilshere and an indication that he wants him to remain at the club rather than lose him either this month or at the end of the season. It was exactly how supporters envisioned Wilshere when he first broke onto the scene – a youth academy product leading the team against one of their fiercest rivals with a place in a cup final up for grabs.
His latest issue though, while perhaps not as serious as initially feared, will have brought Wilshere crashing back down to earth. With Gareth Southgate in attendance, he will have felt vindicated in his decision not to select the Gunners man for his England squad back in November, but Wilshere undoubtedly provides Arsenal with the necessary creative nous to pry teams apart from deep and is a trait that can be transferred across to England.
It was a strength he displayed in the first half against Chelsea, as noted in his lovely ball to send the out-of-sorts Alexandre Lacazette through on goal. While the Frenchman snatched at his chance to test Thibaut Courtois, it was a timely reminder of Wilshere’s talent and an aspect Arsenal will miss in the wake of his latest injury. Be it serious or a mere ankle knock, Wilshere’s second-half withdrawal again exhibited his injury proneness, even if he had played the full 90 minutes in six successive Premier League matches prior to Wednesday night’s stalemate at Stamford Bridge.
With Ramsey still sidelined and Wilshere set to join him, even if for a short spell, it leaves Wenger short of midfield options to drive the team forward in the middle of the park. Mohamed Elneny was the Englishman’s replacement in midweek and the Egyptian is expected to cover for his teammate alongside Granit Xhaka against the Cherries, yet Elneny doesn’t possess the same attacking guile as Wilshere and it could see Arsenal struggle at the Vitality Stadium in their bid to improve their lacklustre away form.
For Wilshere, it’s another hurdle he must overcome, and quickly, to prove he warrants a new deal with the north London side, though, to his credit, he showed plenty of signs of his quality in the matches prior to his second half injury at Stamford Bridge. With Arsenal averaging more goals per game with Wilshere featuring (2.09) than without him (1.55) in the Premier League this season, there’s plenty to suggest the Gunners are a better side this term when he’s available and, as they aim to get their campaign back on track, Wenger will be hoping the Gunners favourite can make a first-team return as quickly as possible.
