BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 22: Jack Wilshere of Bournemouth during the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Tottenham Hotspur at Vitality Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Bournemouth, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Jack Wilshere completes 90 minutes for Bournemouth
The on loan Arsenal player completed a full match for the first time in more than two years.
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere accomplished something this weekend that he had not done for more than two years. On loan with Bournemouth, the midfielder played a full match in the Cherries’ 0-0 draw with Tottenham. It was his first time playing 90 minutes since September 2014.
While not a major achievement for most, for Wilshere it’s been a long time coming. Here are some of the best reactions from Twitter:
Bournemouth should really get an extra point just for getting 90 mins out of Jack Wilshere…
— sarah shephard (@sarahsportmag) October 22, 2016
@AgentRooster
Since Jack Wilshere last played 90 minutes
Leeds have had 6 managers
Apple released 7 iPhones &
Barcelona won 8 trophies— Paul Cundell (@Cundell) October 22, 2016
Wilshere started the game and is running it in the 90th minute. I could cry.
— Stefan (@Stefan_AFC) October 22, 2016
This is a step in the right direction for Wilshere. His career thus far has been plagued by injuries and unmet potential.
Arsene Wenger surprised many football fans by loaning out Wilshere to Bournemouth before the start of the new season. Once heralded as a future Arsenal and England star, Wilshere’s window of opportunity is starting to run out.
Over the last two seasons Wilshere played in just 17 league matches. In November 2014 he suffered ligament damage and missed three months. Last year was even worse for the player. He broke his fibula in August 2015 and missed most of the campaign.
Wilshere’s reputation has taken a hit. He did not impress at Euro 2016 and was not included in England’s most recent squad. The one time Arsenal academy graduate is now aiming to fulfill his potential.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe has been impressed by Wilshere. Following his sides 6-1 demolition of Hull last week Howe told Sky Sports, “He had a big bearing on the game today. Although maybe it’s not evident initially on the eye, he’s behind a lot of our good football. He’s improving all the time.”
Howe may be right. Wilshere currently has the highest passing accuracy in the final third, of any player to have made over 40 passes in the region. His 89.1% puts him above Arsenal teammates Nacho Monreal at 88.6%, Alex Iwobi at 88.1%, Francis Coquelin at 86.9% and Santi Cazorla at 86.9%. He’s also ahead of Chelsea’s N’Golo Kante at 87.3%.
Wilshere has shown he’s a skilled player in the past. He now needs to prove that he can remain injury free and deal with the physical demands of regular Premier League play.
