Why Jack Wilshere Is Likely to Find His Path to the Arsenal 1st Team Blocked

Arsenal’s most recent match, against Sunderland on Sunday, was a fairly dour 0-0 draw. However, it was noteworthy for one reason: It represented Jack Wilshere’s first competitive appearance of the 2015/16 campaign.

Having completed his rehabilitation and made his comeback, the England international will be keen to make an impact in the last few weeks of the season. However, it won’t be as easy as he might hope—central midfield is a congested area of the Arsenal squad, and Wilshere may find game time difficult to come by.

He’ll certainly be motivated. Wilshere knows he must prove his fitness to win a place in England’s UEFA Euro 2016 squad. If he can demonstrate he’s ready, Roy Hodgson is all but certain to name him in his travelling party. However, the national-team manager will presumably be loath to take a player with so few minutes under his belt.

Darko Bandic/Associated Press

Ideally, Wilshere would take up a place in the centre of Arsenal’s midfield—starting with Saturday's game at home to Norwich City. But it will be difficult to displace the current first-choice pairing of Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny.

Ramsey is a favourite of Arsene Wenger’s, and his robust and rambunctious style makes him unique in the Arsenal squad. Elneny, meanwhile, has been one of the few impressive performers in the disappointing second half to the Gunners' campaign.

Even if Wenger were to drop one of that pair, it’s more likely he would recall out-of-favour enforcer Francis Coquelin than throw Wilshere into the fray. The Frenchman tends to re-introduce players slowly in order to offset the risk of another injury setback.

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

In Wilshere’s case, that strategy seems particularly pertinent. The Arsenal academy product’s style of play tempts defenders into dangerous challenges, leaving his brittle body exposed.

However, in an interview with the club's official website, Wilshere showed little desire to change:

"

I don’t think there is anything I can do differently. All my injuries have been impact injuries and I have been a little bit unfortunate at times when I have maybe overrun the ball a little bit, so maybe I can work on dribbling with the ball closer to my foot.

I’m not one of those players who is blessed with Theo Walcott’s pace who can run behind you. When I’m on the ball, I have to get close to [the defender], which is going to cause him to attempt to tackle me or mistime it as we have seen in the past. That is part of my game.

"

When Wilshere made his return after a long lay-off last season, Wenger initially used him on the flanks. It was if he felt the player would be better protected out wide, away from the tumult of the middle of the park. The 24-year-old excelled there too—it’s a position he played when first breaking into the senior side as a teen.

If Wilshere is to get game time between now and the end of the season, it may come on the wing.

The 19-year-old Alex Iwobi’s form may be threatened by the strain of regular first-team football, which could grant Wilshere an opportunity to start on the flank. Whether that’s enough to convince Hodgson he’s ready to be the man at the centre of things for England remains to be seen.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.