Why Keeping Jack Wilshere Fit Will Be as Important as Any Transfer for Arsenal

Right now, Arsenal are in their strongest financial position for many years. In the last two summers they have added marquee players in Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez that would grace any pitch. It’s probably not a coincidence that since increasing their transfer budget, Arsenal have won silverware in two successive seasons.

However, there are some things that money can’t buy. Jack Wilshere’s bond with the club is one such thing. If Arsene Wenger can find a way to get the best out of his English midfielder, it will be as valuable as any new recruit.

In the wake of the cup final celebrations, Wilshere has been lambasted by the media for a foul-mouthed tirade against rivals Tottenham. However, it is exactly that sort of behaviour that makes him so treasured among the Arsenal fans. Simply put, he gets it.

At a time when the divide between players and fans seems to widening with each passing year, Wilshere is a throw-back. He joined Arsenal’s academy at the age of nine and has, with the exception of a brief loan spell with Bolton Wanderers, dedicated his entire professional career to the club.

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However, in the last couple of years Wilshere’s off-field antics have generated more headlines than his performances on it. His young career has been ravaged by injuries, with his physical style putting his vulnerable ankles under intolerable pressure.

At the start of this season, Wenger made a concerted effort to include him in the first team, even switching to a 4-1-4-1 system and pushing record signing Mesut Ozil wide to accommodate him in the centre. Sadly, injury struck again, and Wilshere’s season was effectively curtailed in November. Although he returned in time to make a cup final cameo, his contribution to 2014/15 was severely limited.

There were still a couple of memorable moments. In September’s home match against Manchester City, Wilshere capped a man-of-the-match display with a stunning individual goal, slaloming beyond his marker before clipping over the onrushing Joe Hart. Wilshere then book-ended the campaign with a spectacular goal on the final day of the Premier League season, sending a thumping volley crashing past the helpless Boaz Myhill and into the top corner.

It’s those glimpses of quality that convince Wenger to persist with Wilshere. Per John Cross of the Mirror, the Arsenal boss recently said:

"

I made Jack Wilshere start at 17 years of age. That means that you cannot show a bigger desire of wanting a player and we have always extended his contract and we have been very patient with all his injuries. At some stage I think he must feel wanted.

We always stood by him through every difficult moment. Does that mean we want him to stay here for a longer period? Yes, as we would like to benefit from his talent now. 

"

There’s a clear sense that Wenger feels the club deserve to be rewarded for their patience in nurturing Wilshere’s talent. They’ve made an investment in him that spans 14 years, so it would be crazy to let him go before he has truly delivered on his massive potential.

The key, of course, is keeping him fit. Until Wilshere gets a consistent run of games it will be impossible for him to find his best form. Arsenal fans will have to hope that, like Gael Clichy and Robin van Persie before him, he shakes off the injury problems of his youth to become a reliable member of the squad.

If he can stay fit, Wilshere is confident he can contribute, despite the intense competition for places. Wilshere recently said, per ESPN FC:

"When I first started at Arsenal there was players like Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Alex Song and people were saying I wouldn't play, that I might have to go out on loan again to get some game time, but I am there to accept the competition and fight for my place."

Although Roy Hodgson seems determined to use Wilshere in a deep-lying role for England, his place in the Arsenal team seems most likely to come as one of the three attacking midfielders behind the central striker. Per Arsenal.com, Wenger confirmed as much, saying, “His strength is in the final third, offensively. That is where he really expresses his talent.”

Wilshere would probably prefer that to be in the centre, playing in the role that matches the No. 10 shirt on his back. However, he is unlikely to shift the outstanding Ozil from his central berth.

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In recent weeks, Wilshere was used predominantly on the right-hand side of Arsenal’s trio of attacking midfielders. For now, it seems to suit him: it protects him from the melee of the midfield while allowing him to cut inside on to his stronger left foot.

It would be naive to imagine Wilshere will be ready to start every game next season. However, in rotating with the likes of Ozil and Aaron Ramsey he can certainly make a major contribution. Strength in depth will be key to Arsenal achieving their aspiration of maintaining a credible title challenge.

As Wilshere said, "The big one for us is the Premier League. We have progressed this year, have finished third and got automatic Champions League qualification. Next year we feel that can really push Chelsea, City and United for the title."

With a fit Wilshere in their ranks, Arsenal will definitely stand a better chance of keeping pace with Chelsea. It's time for their investment to pay dividends.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.