Are England better off without Jack Wilshere at the 2018 World Cup?

Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere is fast becoming something of a forgotten entity. For a player who was once considered one of England’s brightest hopes on the international scene, the past few seasons have proven anything but fruitful for the 25-year-old midfielder.

 

After failing to break into the Gunners starting XI upon returning from his loan-spell at AFC Bournemouth, much has been made of the former England international’s future. Must he simply leave the Emirates in order to make the World Cup this summer? Or does a long-term place still await him among Arsene Wenger’s first-team plans?

 

Ramsey is so bad ? Wilshire needs more time with Arsenal. I reckon hes decent and could go to the world cup given game time

— Jenks (@Jenksmert) November 26, 2017

 

Jack Wilshere could seemingly do no wrong once upon a time. His fate was formally projected among the bright lights of the international stage, whilst his growing status within the Premier League seemed boundless and full of exciting potential.

 

Yet several long-term injuries and subsequent periods in and out of the evolving Arsenal line-up later, Wilshere no longer commands his former dominance among the English top-flight. His previous inability to nail down a regular starting place at Bournemouth last season serves to highlight such an emerging viewpoint.

 

How do you call Cook up to England and leave Wilshire out? Southgate has lost the plot, if Wilshire doesn’t get picked to go to Russia next year then Southgate needs sacking

— MatthewEaglen (@EaglenM) November 11, 2017

 

With the likes of Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Harry Winks recently establishing themselves at Tottenham amid mounting hype and sensation, Wilshere has potentially lost out on travelling to Russia with the rest of the Three Lions World Cup squad this summer.

 

Add Jake Livermore’s recent resurgence at West Bromwich Albion and Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s subsequent announcement at Crystal Palace to the mix, and the midfielder suddenly has more than enough reason to doubt his future involvement within Gareth Southgate’s squad.

 

I actually think this current crop of England players dont like Wilshire..might be wrong tho

— ♣ öPEYEmi ♣ (@misterpeye) November 11, 2017

 

Within the midst of the debate, Jack Wilshere’s future at the Emirates remains anything but clean-cut. He has been unable to re-establish a first-team role under Arsene Wenger this season, even in the absence of some of Arsenal’s regular starters.

 

Now that Mesut Ozil will prove unavailable for selection in the upcoming weeks, however, perhaps the former England midfielder will finally be offered the chance to showcase his ability. Wilshere needs to remind us all of what he is capable of. In many senses, a prolonged run among the Gunners starting XI is just what the doctor ordered.

 

Jack Wilshire has played more minutes than Danny Rose, yet Rose gets on the England team?

— Theo. ?? (@tchikomba1712) November 14, 2017

 

Then again, with the much-maligned January transfer window now fast approaching on the horizon, maybe Wilshere ought to cut his losses at the Emirates and embark upon a new chapter in his career. His previous loan spell at AFC Bournemouth eventually culminated in far from opportune circumstances, but that shouldn’t stop the current Arsenal man from carefully considering his future.

 

West Ham United are reportedly interested in the 25-year-old. Whilst Wilshere’s notorious injury concerns will undoubtedly worry the Hammers hierarchy this winter, this is a team currently desperate to source a well-versed centre-midfielder. Someone ready and willing to grab each game by the scruff of the neck and make the fans proud.

 

This is exactly the kind of game Wilshere provides when fully fit and firing. The Hammers faithful would likely welcome such a signing at the first time of asking, for the current Arsenal midfielder offers a level of quality their side are quite clearly lacking in the middle of the park.

 

Wilshire should be in the England squad apparently…? not fit enough to lace Winks’ boots.

— Matt Thomas (@phocusphox) November 23, 2017

 

If Jack Wilshere can take a bold step and leave the Emirates on a permanent deal this January, subsequently going some way to save the struggling Hammers from the dreaded threat of relegation, then England will have no choice but to select the current Arsenal man for World Cup service.

 

His level of pure skill and technique is almost unrivalled within Southgate’s squad, so barring any last minute injury concerns for the formally prominent midfielder, perhaps we haven’t quite seen the last of Jack Wilshere in an England shirt after all.

Relevant news