Thoughts on The Weekend and Jack Wilshere

Top of the Morning to yall

Sunday morning was one of those days that you wake up and then the nonsensities of the previous day come flooding back into your head and you be like ‘oh shit, I gotta get back to bed’ but alas, the memory just stays in your head like you have been betrayed by your lover. Such was the frustrating game we were made to endure 90minutes and wait 2 weeks to see.

At the end of that game, I wondered what might have caused such a dismal performance from the team. They did not even deserve a point from the game and if not for the gorillaesque decision making of Grant Holt, the margin should be well and truly wider. It’s easy to point to the interlull as disrupting the rhythm of the team but when you support a top team like Arsenal, you expect the players to be able to deal with such situations as they are supposed to be used to it.

In my opinion, I think complacency was the core reason why we lost, maybe the lads thought all they had to do to get all 3 points was to show up at Carrow Road and all was done and dusted. After all, Norwich had conceded 9 goals in their last 2 games and had yet to win a single league game this season. They definitely couldn’t be a match for the gunners.

It was a solid wake up call, a good kick in the teeth that no matter the opposition, it’s still the EPL and any team will punish a sloppy performance.

Arsene said not to blame anyone for the defeat. It was a team effort and everyone had to take the fall for it, I personally like that kind of team solidarity and all but am sure he would have given Mannone a good dressing down after spilling a shot back into play in front of an on rushing striker.

People are always quick to point to our defensive mistakes that caused us goals but so far we have conceded 6 goals in the league which is the joint best defence so far with Chelsea but ironically, we are a good 10points adrift of the league leaders. Maybe our problem isn’t in the defence, maybe its in the attack, or midfield, maybe we are yet to find that perfect balance between our new and old players, maybe what we need is a player that can drive the team forward, someone that can take risks, turn the game on its head with a brilliant run, an incisive pass or an audacious shot. A player that hates to lose and would do anything within his power to win a game or avoid a defeat.

As Jack Wilshere nears a return to the first team, expectation is high amongst fans that he could be the much needed final piece in the Arsenal jigsaw this season. Being voted the Arsenal Fans’ Player of the season in 2010/2011 and after that game where he dominated a midfield that had Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets and Fabregas, its not hard to see why.

Prior to the start of the season, Abou Diaby was touted to finally fulfil his potential to marshal the Arsenal midfield along with Arteta and Cazorla but his history of having legs that snap like matchsticks is already catching up with him as he has been out for almost a month. Jack seems primed to step into this role to form the midfield triumvate with Arteta and Santi.

With good bursts of energy, ability to spot a pass, never afraid to go into tackles and goals as well (he scored a lot at youth level), Jack looks to be not only the man to support Cazorla going forward, but also support Arteta in the deep lying midfield as well. The perfect box to box midfielder.

Not the most physical midfield trio, but Cazorla, Wilshere and Arteta combine the perfect blend of technique, passing, shooting, tacking, strength, movement, creativity, discipline and experience to have a successful season.

The only problem is Wilshere has been out for 14months with several injuries and operations and bar a couple of reserve games, he has yet to play any real football in that time. Judging from the match reports of the reserve games he has played, he seems ready physically but is he on a psychological level?

Wilshere: Ready for a new challenge?

During his breakout year in 2010/2011, he had just returned fresh from a 6month loan spell with Bolton Wanderers and the weight of expectation was on the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Na$ri and RvP to perform for the team and as such he was allowed to make his own mistakes and learn from them, but coming back to this team, the weight of expectation rests a great deal on his young shoulders.

The manager has tried to tone that down a little bit by asking fans not to expect much from him but the truth is, we really need Jack back and strong in the midfield. Wenger knows it, Jack knows it and the fans know it but is he ready to handle such a burden psychologically? Don’t forget he’s only 21 and though his footballing abilities are far matured than his age, this is one challenge that he is yet to face in his career, is he up for it? Only time will tell.

That's right about it for today be right back next time for another one. Wishing the team all the best for tomorrow’s visit of Shalke 04 in the champions league.

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God bless the Arsenal, Iree o.