Jamie Carragher: 24-year-old must quit Arsenal for the sake of his career
By Harvey Byrne
Jamie Carragher has advised Jack Wilshere against returning to Arsenal for the sake of his own career.
The 24-year-old midfielder completed a season-long loan switch to Bournemouth in the summer after fearing a lack of game time with the Gunners.
He has been ever-present in the Cherries midfield this season, but Carragher believes there are better players than the England international in the Arsenal squad.
“He’s playing in the No 10 position behind the front, which is maybe slightly alien to him – he’s played there a couple of times for Arsenal – and he’s played well,” said Carragher ahead of Bournemouth’s clash with Liverpool on Sunday, as quoted by the Sky Sports website.
“He’s yet to get off the mark but he’s created more chances than any other Bournemouth player and each week he’s getting better and better. That comes with the fitness side of it but also confidence; knowing that you’re going to play week in, week out – there’s nothing better as a player.
“I think Jack Wilshere’s at the stage where he just wants to play football. With the competition for places at Arsenal, he’s probably not sure [about playing every week].
“He’s got a massive decision to make. I saw what Arsene Wenger said about him signing a new deal but if I’m being honest, if I were Jack Wilshere, I wouldn’t go back to Arsenal.
“I don’t see how he fits in. He’s playing in a No 10 position now and Mesut Ozil is better in that position than him so he won’t play there.
“You go back to central midfield – Wenger’s bought Xhaka, who’s also a left-footed central midfielder, for £35m and you’d expect him to come to the fore next season – he’s still settling in.
“Francis Coquelin’s a holding midfielder, you’ve got Mohamed Elneny and Aaron Ramsey wants to play central midfield.
“Wilshere just goes back to square one for me where he’s not sure whether he’s playing, and at 24 or 25, forget about what club you’re at or what you could win. You want to play week in, week out, for 90 minutes, and show what you can do.”
Wilshere has played in 10 fixtures for Bournemouth this season and has been integral to the club’s good form.
He has added a touch of class in the Cherries attack and he played the full 90 minutes in Sunday’s dramatic late 4-3 comeback win over Liverpool.
His contract with Arsenal runs out next summer, but if he does return he may struggle to get back into the team, as the north London outfit currently occupy second place in the league table.
The Gunners are sat three points from London rivals and league leaders Chelsea, as they aim to end their 12-year wait for a Premier League title.
They will face FC Basel in the Champions League on Tuesday before hosting Stoke at the Emirates on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Bournemouth and Wilshere will travel to Turf Moor to face Burnley next, as they look to secure their highest ever league finish.
In other Arsenal news, here is the best possible Gunners team to face Basel.