Ex-defender sends message to Arsenal fans about Jack Wilshere
Nigel Winterburn questions whether Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is cut out to thrive in the Premier League
Nigel Winterburn has questioned whether Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has the physicality to realise his potential in the Premier League.
The England international burst onto the scene at the north London club as a precocious talent in 2010 and produced a memorable performance in a 2-1 win against Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium.
Wilshere, though, has struggled badly with injuries in recent seasons and Arsene Wenger sanctioned the tenacious midfielder’s loan move to Bournemouth last summer.
The Arsenal midfielder made 27 appearances during his season-long loan spell at the Vitality Stadium but suffered a broken leg in April during Bournemouth’s clash with Tottenham Hotspur.
Wilshere is facing an uncertain future at the north London club with less than 12 months remaining on his current deal with the FA Cup winners.
However, former Arsenal defender Winterburn has questioned whether Wilshere is built to succeed in the Premier League given his well-documented injury problems.
“Well I do believe the club value him highly, I think Jack understands his game time will be limited and is frustrated,” Winterburn told bWIN.
“He’s a good player but he has picked up a huge amount of injuries and sometimes you have a player, no matter how hard they work, whose body cannot take the rigours of training and the intensities of the Premier League and unfortunately it looks a bit like that for Jack.”
Wilshere is facing increased competition from Granit Xhaka, Santi Cazorla, Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin.
Arsenal finished in fifth place in the Premier League last season.
