With Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin, and Jack Wilshere all spending time on the sidelines this year, Arsene Wenger has had limited options in the middle of the park. This not only causes fatigue but it dictates the style of play the team will use. Now with Wilshere’s return to full training and imminent return to first team football, Wenger has some of these options back.
The 24-year-old can play in three different positions. His most comfortable and natural role is the pivot next to the combative Coquelin. Wilshere would also do in the no.10 role, but Mesut Ozil has that all sewed up. Finally, another place the young Englishman could see time is out on the right wing, while this may not be his preferred position he has played and played well there before.
More important than what position he will play, is what qualities he will bring to the team to aid them in the final stretch of the season. The obvious quality he would bring is fresher legs. Yes, he is coming off injury and yes he may be lacking match fitness, but if he can acquire that in a couple of substitute appearances his energy and fresher legs could be vital to Arsenal in the last portion of the season. The league is a long hard battle causing everyone fatigue, it would be a huge asset to have a dynamic Wilshere at full strength. The next thing he brings to the table is his ability to pick more incisive passes from the deep lying role. While
While Mohamed Elneny is serviceable, when he plays the team stick to a more rigid formation of two defensive midfielders. With Wilshere in the team, Wenger can change some things tactically. If Wilshere were to play next to Coquelin, he would probably be a bit higher up the pitch, allowing him to recycle attacks, switch the point of attack and find incisive passes to the front three; all of which he does exceptionally well. These passes along with his vision will take a bit off the creative burden of Ozil, who often this season is the only source of any incisive pass. This is crucial because so many times this year the motto for stopping the north London side has been, “stop Ozil, stop Arsenal”. Finally, the biggest and probably his best quality that the young Englishman brings to the first team is his driving runs. Wilshere has always been wonderful on the ball, picking it up from deep and driving at teams. This addition to the team would be priceless. If he can drive at defences opening up space for Ozil to drop into it allows for more fluidity in attack. He can play one-twos with the German which would help to cut through stubborn defences. In addition, by running at defences, it pulls people out of position, thus allowing the front three to check into theses spaces or run in behind through these gaps.
It will take time for Wilshere to come back into his best form, but if he can prove himself in a few substitute appearances he could find himself in the starting eleven by May. There is no question that Wenger will be grateful to have this promising Englishman back in contention for selection as he allows the team to be more fluid and more tactically adaptable. Whatever role he plays in any capacity, Wilshere’s return will be crucial to Arsenal as they attempt to get back in the title race.
