Charlie Nicholas: Tottenham fans must appreciate this Arsenal 25-year-old
By Danny Wright
Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas believes that Tottenham fans must be able to appreciate the fact that Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is still playing at the top level despite years of injury woes.
Wilshere, 25, made his first senior appearance of the season in the League Cup win over Doncaster in midweek after suffering a broken leg while on loan at Bournemouth last term.
Coincidentally, the playmaker suffered his injury when he collided with Harry Kane while playing for the Cherries at White Hart Lane when they were mauled 4-0 by Tottenham.
Now, ex-Gunner Nicholas has backed Wilshere to earn himself a spot in the starting line-up for Arsenal's Monday night clash with West Brom, but has mode quite a bold claim about Spurs fans' perception of the England international.
"None of us, in all honesty, think he can get back to where he was four or five years ago because the injuries have been so severe, but if he can get close to that then he's still worth keeping," said Nicholas, as quoted on the Sky Sports website.
"Is he a better footballer than Granit Xhaka? Yes. He's certainly better than Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin, and things are starting to fall in place for him where he's going to get opportunities.
"Even Tottenham fans would have to acknowledge he's shown remarkable determination to bounce back again and he's got too much talent for Arsenal to give up on him."
Wilshere made 27 appearances across all competitions while on his temporary spell with Bournemouth last season, impressing many by staying injury free for such a long period until he suffered the broken leg.
Since returning to the Emirates he has featured just once in the senior squad after playing in the Under-23s to try and get himself back to full speed.
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