What Next For Jack?
Mar 24th, 2018 by 'holic
What should have been a big few days for Jack Wilshere has turned into yet another setback for his hopes of making England’s World Cup squad this summer. Selected for the friendly matches in Holland and against Italy at Wembley, the Gunners midfielder was hoping to show he was back to international form. Instead a knee injury picked up in training stopped him from boarding the plane to Amsterdam and now he knows he will not return to the squad for the Italian job.
It comes at the end of a week in which he revealed that Arsene Wenger had told him in August that we would not be renewing his contract and he was free to go if he could find another club. Following his initial upset Jack opted to stay and fight for his Arsenal future and to his credit he worked his way back into the first team and was appointed captain against Milan in the Europa League.
A measure of his comeback at the Arsenal is that he was also quoted this week as wanting to be the next Gunners captain. His affection for the club has never been in question, and his recovery has prompted the club to have made him a new contract offer. Unfortunately for Jack the word is that he is being offered a basic pay cut on the region of £20k to 30k per week but with appearance payments that will give him a significant pay rise if he stays fit and maintains his form.
As with all issues at the club right now opinions are divided on the offer between those who have been critical of the club for extending contracts to the likes of Abou Diaby and Tomas Rosicky, and those who feel Jack has proven himself this season and we should give him what he wants to stay. It will be costly to replace a top homegrown talent but the club are taking a huge gamble that Jack’s heart will keep him a Gunner.
All the aces are in Jack’s hand right now. At 26 he might have perhaps two contracts left with which to maximise his earnings. There is little doubt that other clubs will have followed his progress this season and may feel encouraged to make him a highly paid transfer target. That would have been cemented by a return to the England team he was winning rave reviews for, particularly when winning six man of the match awards in qualifying for the Euros 2016. Instead this latest knock may have taken one or two potential suitors out of the frame.
For this old romantic I would love to see Jack running out with the cannon on his chest next season, but I do understand totally the club’s stance. There is severe pressure on our wage bill with the recent decision to drop the socialist wage structure, and we cannot afford to be paying big money to injured players. The risk with Jack is one the club want him to take. He’ll still be on £80 to 90k per week, apparently. Only time will tell.
Jack’s loyalty faces the ultimate test this summer.
The Arsenal Shirts
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Have a good one ‘holics.
87 Responses to “What Next For Jack?”
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Drink!
Just like you, I totally understand the club’s stance and also think it’s all up to Jack now. I get the feeling that the club don’t think he’s doing the absolute best required to keep himself fit. If I were him, loved the club like he claims to do and sure that I was doing my best to be fit, I’d sign the new contract. If in the end I stay fit, I’d get paid a shitload still. If not, I’d sign elsewhere if I’m offered a better package. I really don’t think there’s much of a tough decision to be made here, either way he will get paid a shitload if he does his best. There’s even a slight chance of still getting paid a shitload while not doing his best.
morning Guvnor.
A topical piece just now – I like
Jack too but think the club is
right in this case. I wouldn’t be
that surprised if he ended up at
Shitty unfortunately.
I would understand the club’s stance if they have a medical view that the long-term future for Jack is limited. I don’t understand the commitment to Xhaka who is erratic and a very frustrating player. Jack plays his heart out for the club and if his future isn’t compromised I would want to send a message to the young talent coming through that there is a better chance of forging a first team future at Arsenal than with the other big six clubs. Binning Jack would do exactly the opposite if we then replace him with Meyer and retain Xhaka .
Wenger’s judgement has been flawed in recent seasons but I think his arm is being twisted by the board on this one. Jack should be in midfield for England this summer because no English midfielder is better and I’d love to see him stay at the club. Maybe we can give him Kroenke’s £3 million consultancy fee. After all his shares are worth many millions more than they were this time last week and he’s done very little to earn that money
Summed up well Guvna, Cent and Matt. The club certainly knows the Orthopods’ opinions on the short, medium and long term prognosis for Jack’s multiply abused ankles and I am sure that is the basis for the novel ‘pay as you play’ offer.
As BtM suggested in an earlier set of drinks and Cent implies @1, if Jack was confident in his future fitness he could sign that contract and earn more than he currently does through the bonuses offered. However even without his past history, football is a precarious profession and many talented players have career threatening and career ending injuries that would make such a contract precarious. I really can’t see him signing it and I am sure that the club doesn’t expect him to sign it.
When Vieira was allowed to leave, I was told by an insider that the club sanctioned his departure because they knew that his knee was irreparably damaged and in truth he never again reached the heights he had achieved with us. I suspect the club have the same expectations for Jack’s future and are not prepared to bet the farm on him.
My post passed TTG’s in the ether and he raises good reasons for preferring Jack to Xhaka as a long-term choice but I suspect the medical report trumps Jack’s on-field commitment and the effect on the youth team.
Trev from the last drinks: You silly, twisted boy, you.
But pull up a bollard and take the weight off your nauticals:
https://youtu.be/23awaAOhzd8
On Jack, I think Bath has got it right. The club doesn’t think Jack will be ever be the player we thought he would be before his injuries and the contract structure reflects that.
If Jack doesn’t want the £80 to 90k per week I’ll take it. It’s a sight more than my pension, and I’m probably fitter.
I hope he stays though. I’d really hate to see him come good with $iteh or the Chavs. If you go, Jack, head for the sun in Italy or Spain, it’ll be good for your health.
Agree with all of that Chris
except I’m not fitter.
My achillea are iffier than
Kos’s.
Looks like Steve Smith and some
henchmen are going to get fired
for cheating. Lucky for the
players that the same principle
isn’t applied to football.
I don’t know if there are any medical reports on Jack that predict the future. However, if we are prepared to offer him £90 a week with a pay as you play deal then we must have decided that…
a) we still want him
b) at £90k that we feel he must have an acceptable level of physical fitness.
We are agreeing to pay him between £4 and £5 million a year. A lot of money for a player with a broken body that we don’t really want?
I personally think the pay as you pay offer is an insult and borders on embarrassing. How many others are on that sort of contract?
Ned, from memory you posted figures saying that Jack’s appearance record was comparable to Rambo’s???
Jack is potentially the best midfield player of his generation. He is 26. To Lee him walk away for nothing could be the biggest mistake this club has made for years in my opinion.
If Jack was confident about his fitness he would sign? Couldn’t disagree more. If he was confident on his fitness he would tell Arsenal to poke it and go and play somewhere else.
How much will it cost to buy his replacement? Fee and wages?
Give Jack a contract that in these days of ridiculous money, is comparable to others. If it doesn’t work out then in 12 monthssell him?
But Steve, what if he gets injured? What if any of them get injured? We would never sign any player if we continued to think like that.
It’s all totally bizarre for me. That’s from both a financial and a playing perspective.
Cheers Holic – and Ned 🙂
Like Bath @4, I heard similar things about Vieira when he was allowed to leave. I heard that the medical team didn’t expect him to be able to play more than half a season because of the condition of his knees.
Half a season ?!?! We’ve had players who have struggled to play half a season’s worth of games in their entire Arsenal careers.
I looked forward so much to seeing Jack’s potential realised in our first team. Alas, due to injury, it has never really happened. We’ve had glorious tasters like the Barcelona home game and the goal against Norwich at the Emirates when he passed the ball into the net past a mesmerised keeper after an amazing series of one-twos. But like so many of our players, injury has been a constant companion and ruined any long term impact he might have had.
It does seem odd that after carrying so many perma-crocks for so many seasons, the club now decides to get tough on possibly the best of all of them.
But, as we know, the times, they are a-changing.
Again 😉
SteveT@11: An encore performance, as they say on the posher TV channels when they are serving up a repeat:
Jack’s injury record since his debut season in terms of games missed per season is:
4, 0, 60, 4, 13, 26, 47, 1, 1.
By comparison Ramsey’s games missed over the same period is
29, 1, 3, 21, 15, 11, 22, 10, 9
So Jack has missed just over twenty games more than Ramsey and in six of nine seasons has played more games than the Welsh wizard!
With Jack having played 31 games this season to Rambo’s 23.
When I think of those we have paid a wage to over the years as well. Just look at those out on loan. Perez, Campbell, Bilek etc. How much we paid them over the years?
Krystian Bielik Is a prime example. Another next best thing and now in his 4th season with the club. In those 4 years he’s played 2 league cup games.
And we are worried about a possible injury in the future to Jack????
Ned,
To Steve’s comment that Jack has played 31 games this season to Rambo’s 23,
How many of those were as a starter,and how many as a sub.
Also how many in the EPL and how many in the Europa league.
On other news,
Congrats to the Arse Ladies who thrashed Charlton 5 nil today,to advance to the semi final of the FA Cup,where we have been drawn to play Everton.
The other semi is between Chelsea the current league leaders,and 2nd placed Man City.
Like the Men’s team,the Ladies have been in the wilderness for the past few years,after dominating the Ladies game for so long.
Then a lot of the wealthier clubs started getting serious,and the likes of Chelsea/Liverpool/City began winning all the trophies.
We are now in a rebuilding phase and with astute buying,we are now beginning to make ourselves a force again.
Having already beaten City in the Inter Continental Cup Final a couple of weeks ago,we are now on the brink of another Cup Final.
Couple that with a good unbeaten run in the league,and the new Coach can rightly be proud of what he and his team have achieved this season.
Also congrats to Eddie who was on the scoresheet for England under 19’s in their match played today.
Clive: Jack (31 games)
PL 17 (Started 10, on as sub 7; unused sub 2)
Europa 9 (Started 8, on as sub 1; unused sub 0)
League Cup 5 (Started 5; unused sub 0)
Rambo (23 games)
PL 19 (Started 17, on as sub 2; unused sub 0)
Europa 2 (Started 2; unused sub 0)
League Cup 2 (Started 1, on as sub 1; unused sub 0)
I see Hendon up your way are offering entry to next Saturday’s Isthmian League game against Metropolitan Police for £1 to any serving or ex-copper and any member of the emergency services, NHS, Prison Service and Ministry of Defence. And good for them. Hendon playing some good football this season by all accounts and beat the Billericay Moneybags 4-1 this Saturday past.
Ned
Thank the Monks for the info on Jack/Rambo,and also for the Hendon news.
Give them an extra Hot Cross Bun each after Prayers on Good Friday.
Hendon haven’t quite been able to match their early season table topping heroics,as inconsistency has them 10pts off the pace with 8 games still to play.
Like our beloved Arse,their Achilles heel has been the defence.
No trouble scoring,80 in the goals for column,but unfortunately 50 has been racked up in the against column.
But the Club is thriving with good sponsors and a good Community spirit around the Club.
Traditionally hot cross buns should only be consumed between Shrove Tuesday and midday Good Friday, Ned, so make sure the monks eat Clive’s buns after matins and don’t tuck them away for illicit midnight snacking.
Not that ‘Clive’s buns’ sound that appetizing to me… 🙁
If Jack is confident of his fitness
then all well and good but it’s a
totally different matter to us as
a club being confident of his
fitness. That would be folly given
his history. The example with
Aaron just shows both are not
reliable.
At the moment our midfield
balance is not right and I agree
with Ttg that a DM is the first
priority, then another CM. Trying
to be objective we shouldn’t keep
both Jack and Aaron, they just
aren’t reliable and they are both
suspect defensively. Of course I
accept their defensive liabilities
are shown up more because
Xhaka isn’t actually a DM and
he should be first out the door.
When I say DM is the priority then
a CM I just mean in the midfield.
I’m not ignoring the need for
defensive reinforcements!
Nonproprietary hot cross buns seem to be in order here. Wouldn’t want to make the monks jealous. 😉
We could use upgrades practically everywhere, Matt, but CBs have to be the priority, followed by a DMF, a GK and a quality winger.
What we need to go along our shiny new defensive midfielder are a couple of no nonsense SOBs like Carvalho or Vidic who only let in about one goal every three games, if not fewer.
I’d settle for CBs Beckenbauer and Baresi with a Gattuso at DMF. Try getting through or round that lot Ronaldo.
Or, of today’s CBs, Hummels and Ramos with Casemiro ahead of them.
And whisper it, I might even settle for Vertonghen and Alderweireld!
Clive@19: Thanks for the update on the Greens. Given the club went through a near-death experience some years back good to hear it is thriving under supporter ownership.
Chris@20: 🙂 Worry not. Strict discipline is observed at Castle Ned.
It’s interesting reading the comments about previous and potential injuries. It begs the question, how many regular first team players go season to season, relatively injury free?
Wouldn’t argue with Chris or
bt8 that we need a CB as well.
Several people have mentioned
giving Nelson a chance in the
remaining PL games and I agree
with that. But to me it’s
more important to make a decision
on Chambers and Holding, not to
mention Bielik. How many young
CBs do we need if we’re just going
to buy an experienced one anyway.
Steve T,
It’s certainly a good question.
Also, are the injuries repetitively
the same one or just one-offs
is another question. You can more
likely predict one than the other
I think.
It’s hard to be sure without the
medical data and it may be that
my impression that Jack and
Aaron are fragile is just that –
an uninformed opinion.
According to dot con, only Xhaka and Bellerin have actually played in more games than Jack this year, across all competitions????? I have not checked to see how many games he was an unused sub for? I will leave that for the monks.
But pay as you play is the way forward?
I’m guessing that every new contract offer will be based on the same thought process from now on then?
“Elneny signs contract extension”
smart move
Ned
Wonderful research in the last drinks .
I remember we first won it in the mid sixties when Pat Rice played and 1971 when David Price played. Kevin Campbell was also involved along the line in another winning team I think
Stephen Hughes played in another winning year but although I went to see a couple of the later semis , the players who impressed me like David Noble and John Halls amounted to very little. It looks like we get one major player from each successful cup team.
But I still love lads coming up through the club
Elneny signs contract extension.
World domination is just around the corner.
SteveT@30: This is depressing. Going back five seasons, of the current first team squad, only Holding among those who have got on the pitch at least 10 times in any of those five seasons has never been unavailable for selection due to injury. (And if you expand it to those with any first team experience, the list expands only by Matt Macey.) Nearly all the first team squad have had at least one season here or elsewhere where they have missed at least 10 games.
TTG@35: The 2000-01 Youth Cup winning side had Steve Sidwell, Jerome Pennant and Jeremie Aliadiere, all of whom had careers of some sort.
Sorry Ned. I’ll stop there.
My thanks to the monks. Drinks on the bar for all those on unpaid overtime.
Thanks Ned.
Sidwell had a career outside Arsenal and Aliadiere is still playing in France. I hear Pennant is a porn star?!
Jay Bothroyd was with us too but upset Don Howe by throwing his shirt at him. Exit Bothroyd. I think Graham Stack was the goalie and he played for many clubs . There was also the lad – Galll? Who was tragically killed in Italy.
Our ‘Class of 92’ was the Rocastle/ Thomas/ Merson/ Hayes group but tbh we might have to include Gus Caesar!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4BUVEPSSyQ
Anybody know if the interlull is waxing or waning?
I think I lost track back in mid-March.
I thought the season had ended…
SteveT@38: Cheers. Will work for beer.
TTG@39: Graham Stack is still playing, for Eastleigh in the National League where Gavin Hoyte, also formerly of this parish, is on the books.
This is an oldish link about what happened to all the 2000 FA Youth Cup winning team.
https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20151204/class-of-2000
Must be waning, the Orcs are
rising in Mordoke
I wonder how much of Jack’s training is designed specially for him on a weekly basis at Arsenal , he arrives at the England headquarters and put through his paces for 4 days along with rest of the squad and his body can’t take it
We don’t know how much he is being nursed on a weekly basis to be able to play
So now we know why Jack is offered a pay as you play contract on a reduced basic salary. Not only has he the long term ankle problems but he is “managing “tendonitis in his knee, I’m sure Trev can give us a prognosis .
A very sad situation for Jack but not totally unexpected . Arsene has admitted in the past that Jack was played when not completely fit in his early days and it looks as though the chickens have come home to roast.
I wonder whether he will start on Sunday, whether the club physios will have him patched up. Gareth Southgate’s revelation will hardly impress Arsenal or any other clubs thinking of signing him this summer.
Self cooking chickens Delia? What a great way forward.
Hasn’t Kos been managing tendinitis
for the last few seasons?
Course he’s a few years older than
Jack. And I don’t know if knees
are more troublesome than ankles.
Is there a doctor in the bar?
Self roasting chickens would be
handy 🙂
I saw some self roasting spuds
go out of the CL a couple of weeks
back when we still had football.
Should I ? Oh, I did.
Nice link Ned thanks
I’d fforgotten a lot of those names.
It suggests that very few make it to Prem level
Managing tendonitis? I thought that was Tony Adams’ last coaching job in Greece.
*gets coat*
Cynic heh ?
They must have done their friendly thing by now?
1-1 bt8 if you mean the England
friendly. England led but Italy
equalised late on when Southgate
was punished for not bringing
Welbz on.
A team not going to the World
Cup drew with a team that might
as well not go.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89w-L3aICj4
Theresa May should block England from going to the WC in Russia … saving face for the team while making a political statement at the same time. Win, win.
England XI theme song … https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KgB-sI2H-c
To be fair England played a lot better than against the Dutch – beaten by a VAR decision, which should amuse Cynic.
It was a draw of course, but the dodgy VAR decision late in the game deprived us of a deserved win.
I have no interest in international football at all so VAR or no VAR has no impact on me at all.
I was watching a film called Gargoyles this evening and the Italy game never entered my mind until I came on here.
Which is as it should be. 🙂
This
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alUFKzUuudI
To be even fairer, Tarkowski was
an oaf and the penalty was a
reasonable decision.
Chris
@57
If we don’t go Southgate
will keep his job !
🙂
You watched it all, Cynic? 😮
Tarkowski was an oaf on several occasions, Matt, we’d have been better off with Tarka the Otter.
It’s cold this morning. I wish I was a little ‘otter.
Nicks Trev’s coat.
I could be wrong but I thought I spotted a link to an ABBA song in the links up above. All I can say is, SOS!
A bit surprising?
“Brilliant Spain thrash Argentina” by 6 goals to 1.
http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/43549056
I’ve been studying the CSKA website waiting for a plane in Dublin and forced against my will to imbibe Guinness. Unfortunately the Russian language is not one I’ve studied. I can barely speak or write English as many of you will know and I think the writing is Cyrillic script.
Anyway they haven’t had a stellar season but their top scorer is a Brazilian ,Vitinho , and their star player appears to be Dzagoev who I have heard of. Akinfeev is still in goal but may have to collect his pension on the day we play.
Anyway I’m now convinced that we will terminate their interest in the Europa League.
One odd thing is that Mkhitaryan, who can play next week, scored against them in Moscow for the Mancs in the Champions League. However Aubameyang who is ineligible has not played against CSKA at all this season. A silly rule, now being changed but too late for us to benefit .
Most of their players are Russian and they have been drubbed twice at international level this interlull.
This sets us up nicely for the week of anticipation we have before us .
Now where is that Guinness?
Nice one TTG.
Apologies for the lack of a post tonight, people. I have scoured NewsNow for any smidgen of news but to no avail. I could write about Arsene Wenger, will he or won’t he, but people are sick to the back teeth of that saga. I could discuss his potential successor but it’s a bit of a drawback that I don’t actually know who it will be. I could do what nearly every other click-bait ‘story’ has done and post about the 137 shiny new players we are being linked with three months before the next transfer window opens.
So I shall wait and see what the manager says in his presser tomorrow and hope that he gives us something to dissect on Good Friday Eve.
Now, anything on the tv yet? ?
no football no post no beer no tobacco no sex no tv
i am stoked
sparky will send to championship both clubs he managed in one season
you need a new word for that
Just had a brainwave for a competition. You’ll love it Cynic! Hopefully up tomorrow.
TTG
thnks for the info on CSKA.
Worth pointing out that Utd beat them 4 nil in Moscow in the CL group stage,so i will be surprised if we cannot turn them over.
Although as the inimitable Steve T has told us innumerable times over the seasons past,it depends which Arse team turns up on the day.
Thursday night, UK time, we launch a competition. Be here. It’s a doozy.
I’ve guessed it ! Which Arsenal player looks most like a Gargoyle!?
I’m home now. Only one pint of Guinness because I was driving !
Some sort of VARiation on a theme, is it?
Gargoyles? Then the answer is either Tevez or Ribéry or both…
boozy gargoyles?
YEEEEaaAAHHHhhh!
Well negotiated home, TTG. I find the greatest problem with drinking and driving is losing sight of the road when you tip your head back.
‘Holic@70: Good for you. Sets the tone of good common sense for this place, despite the best efforts of everyone else.
Chris@80: The trick is to steer with your knees. Leaves both hands free to control the glass.
Seems AW couldn’t bring himself
to talk about Stoke today – quite
understandable really.
Just had a brainwave for a competition. You’ll love it Cynic!
If it involves lots of money and I win it, then I will.
I run an ad blocker and I still get that banner. Useless bloody adblocker 😉
Hey Cynic.
How come there is no Cynic blocker? 😉
Competition time. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>