Arsenal Transfer News: Jack Wilshere's Bournemouth Impact Revealed by Eddie Howe

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe believes on-loan Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has already had a positive impact at his new club despite not yet featuring in a competitive game.

The England international midfielder moved to the Cherries on the final day of the summer transfer window, seeking to get regular football under his belt away from the Emirates Stadium. Having played for Bournemouth in a friendly against AC Milan on Saturday, Howe praised the influence of the 24-year-old.

"I have seen a difference in our players and certainly standing next to them in the tunnel with the team can only inspire belief and confidence in the group," he said, per Alex Smith of the Daily Star. "Hopefully it will inspire us to be better coaches to our players and it will inspire the players onto another level."

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As noted in the piece, Wilshere turned down the chance to join some illustrious clubs, such as Milan, to make the move to the south coast.

It was a crucial decision for the midfielder too. Last term, he played just 141 minutes of Premier League football because of injury, and although he was part of England’s squad for the UEFA European Championship in the summer, Wilshere was far from his vibrant best.

After the clash against the Rossoneri, during which the Gunners academy graduate played 45 minutes, he took to social media to praise the Bournemouth fans:

The fanbase will be delighted to have got Wilshere on board—as will anyone tied to the Cherries.

Some have been critical that the England playmaker didn’t take the chance to join a more illustrious club; Manchester United icon Paul Scholes expressed his concern that Wilshere had "set his sights too low," per Sky Sports.

Nevertheless, Wilshere is likely to become an important part of the Bournemouth setup, with Howe suggesting he’ll be at the creative hub of this dynamic side.

"We saw the potential of the team with him in it and there will hopefully be some exciting times ahead and he can provide that link between our midfield and attack which we desperately need," the manager said. "He has a creative eye, which anyone who has seen Arsenal down the years will know how good he is with his decision making in those areas."

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While a move to Milan may have been more glamorous, it may have proved to be detrimentally unsettling for a temporary switch. Journalist Kartik Krishnaiyer believes minutes are the most important thing for Wilshere at this juncture:

That’s always been the big concern for the midfielder. In terms of natural talent and in-game intelligence, he possesses the class to feature for the best teams in Europe. But it’s drawing those qualities from him on a consistent basis that’s the challenge, with fitness woes obviously the biggest hindrance.

Being the biggest name at a club such as Bournemouth will not only mean Wilshere has a more significant role in the XI, but he’ll also be encouraged to take more responsibility. For Arsenal, should he return fitter, more confident and with increased maturity, the decision to send him out on loan would be vindicated.