Jack Wilshere's Versatility May Be His Downfall at Arsenal

Back in 2013, in the buildup to an England game against Brazil, Steven Gerrard described Jack Wilshere thusly, per BBC Sport: “He can tackle, get up and down the pitch, create a goal, score a goal, he can pass. I think he's got the potential to become one of the best in the world.”

Gerrard is not the only luminary to have heaped praise upon the young Arsenal star: Marco Reus has called him a “perfect player”, per The Guardian, and Bastian Schweinsteiger believes that “in his position, he’s one of the best players there are.”   

But now, two years on from Gerrard’s statement on Wilshere’s areas of expertise and potential, his future with Arsenal hangs in the balance.

In the last two seasons, Arsene Wenger has gradually begun to re-engage the club’s substantial coffers in the transfer market, having recognised the limitations of relying almost solely on the famed Arsenal academy. This infusion of expensive imports—including Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck—has proved the perfect tonic for revitalising the club’s fortunes.

This season (and particularly the last few months) has seen Arsenal replicate some of their glory days under Wenger, playing scintillating football while picking up results as well. Ever since he broke through into the first team in 2010/11, Wilshere’s involvement in Arsenal's rediscovery of their trophy-winning touch has been seen as inevitable.

However, he hasn’t featured in any capacity since September.

Gerrard’s words have proved prophetic, albeit not in the way the former England captain would have anticipated. Wilshere’s versatility has, if anything, counted against him, leading to his being shoehorned into various positions across Arsenal’s midfield, a jack of all trades yet master of none.

Much of Arsenal’s success has stemmed from finding a specialist midfielder for each position this term. Mikel Arteta has provided the metronomic passing from deep. Francis Coquelin has been the dedicated destructive presence, a solid base which has allowed the three attacking midfielders in front of them—typically a combination of Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Ozil, with Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and others also available—to interchange and flourish.

It's hard to make the claim that Wilshere offers more in any of these singular areas than the players currently occupying them, although he is certainly able to play in all the positions with a degree of expertise unlike any of them would be able to.

Tim Ireland/Associated Press

Arsene Wenger has shown commendable patience with players over the years—many managers would have cut their losses with players as frequently injured as Abou Diaby long ago. There’s no question that Wilshere has time left at Arsenal, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to see where he fits into a midfield packed with talent.

He has proven his worth as a utility player capable of plying his trade in a variety of roles, but given his undoubted ability, it’s hard to see Wilshere remaining at the Emirates for long if limited to a supporting role.

However, the truly worrying thing from his perspective is whether he could find another club challenging for trophies that would ensure his place in the first-team fold.

While—as the above quotes ably demonstrate—Wilshere would by no means be short of suitors should he become available, in realistic terms, it’s hard to see an English team that would be able to afford him while also meeting his criteria.

Chelsea’s midfield is arguably their greatest asset and needs no real strengthening for the time being. Manchester City may be about to undergo rebuilding but have enough money to buy specialists for each position in midfield, a process which is currently underway at Manchester United.

All of this may be largely academic anyway, given Arsenal would resist selling to rivals at all costs, particularly with their renewed competitiveness.

Wilshere’s case is undoubtedly an unusual one, with both club and player in a state of limbo. Wilshere is still only 23 and has time to overcome his injury woes and find a role that he can truly make his own.

However, with Arsenal undoubtedly wanting to capitalise on this season’s improvements by delving into the transfer market this summer, another injury-hit campaign for the Englishman could see him left behind.