Wilshere showed that the Gunners don’t have to rely on Aaron Ramsey in the middle…
SEE ALSO: The top 10 managers in world football
Super talented English midfielder Jack Wilshere has arguably been the victim of Arsenal’s excellent first half of the Premier League season, and the superb form of both Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey.
Before his injury, Arsene Wenger had entrusted Ramsey with a free central midfield role, giving him licence to get forward and join in with the attack. He did so with aplomb, and had scored eight goals and assisted six others before his injury around Christmas time.
This enabled Wilshere to return to his favoured, central attacking midfield role, and last night against Aston Villa, he did so brilliantly.
Here’s the stats he produced before half-time, where he scored and assisted a goal apiece.
Jack Wilshere HT stats: 1 shot, 1 goal, 1 take on, 88% pass completion, 1 key pass. pic.twitter.com/Pk7I0ltejE
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) January 13, 2014
In the second half, Wilshere helped Arsenal kill the game, and he regularly made the right choices in possession, while being a combative, battling influence when Villa had the ball.
“Jack is coming back to his best,” Wenger said, reported by the Sun.
“He has found his change of pace and his penetration. He’s not only a passer, he’s a guy who’s incisive with the ball. That’s his strength and for that you need to be at the top of your game physically.”
Wilshere certainly was of all these things. Against Villa, he drove into space, and helped side side retain possession by picking the right time to play a clever flick or through ball. His excellent finish and lovely assist prove he may well be finding his best form for the second half of Arsenal’s title push, right in time for the World Cup with England next summer.
Here’s what the Arsenal fans had to say on Twitter about the 21-year-old star:
Nervy late on but #afc hold on, back top. Wilshere good (bar 1 challenge). Mertesacker such a leader. Gnabry promising. Ox back
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter) January 13, 2014
We love Wilshere. — La caja del incendio (@LoganBelano) January 14, 2014
Quick one on last night. Very disappointed with Cazorla. Wilshere looks back to his best. BFG & Sagna both very solid as usual #AFC — Ollie Moy (@OllieMoy1) January 14, 2014
A great display from Jack last night. Nick. http://t.co/wBXXvyHBsX
— Gooner Till I Die (@GoonerTillIDie1) January 14, 2014
Congrats for the Gunners win against Aston Villa. Like usual the Giroud and Wilshere pair brings no doubt for the top of the league! #COYG
— Nur Nadiah (@NurNadiah96) January 14, 2014
COMMENTS