Arsenal set sights for defensive midfielder closer to home

Details: Written by Jason Phillips; Published: Thursday, 24 July 2014 11:05

Arsène Wenger is set to keep the faith in Jack Wilshere and transform him into a defensive midfielder, following the end of his pursuit for German international Sami Khedira.

Creative deadlock

The Express report that Arsenal are ready to invest their time and effort in converting Jack Wilshere into a deeper lying midfielder during pre-season for the upcoming campaign.

This comes after the club have seen moves for Sami Khedira, Lars Bender and Morgan Schneiderlin become deadlocked, with the manager keen to spend his transfer budget on more pressing issues within the squad.

Another Chance

Despite Jack Wilshere’s recent shenanigans on holiday in Las Vegas, The Guardian quotes Wenger this week, the manager giving the Englishman another chance at fulfilling his potential in red and white.

“I have to speak to him really to see what happened before I come out publicly. I’m not deeply concerned by it. I just want to know what happened.”

There is even more pressure on Wilshere to succeed in the upcoming season, after a disappointing World Cup with England saw the player compete for only 90 minutes of the country’s torrid display in Brazil.

Hold him back

With plenty of attacking options ahead of him at the club and the addition of Alexis Sanchez, Wenger feels as though Wilshere can flourish in the deep-lying midfielder position.

In November 2013, the French manager revealed to The Mirror in an ‘#AskArsene’ feature where he believed his prodigy would end up playing.

“His best position is as a deep-lying midfielder, where he can be a distributor. He has a good burst and vision.”

With the club’s long-term plans for the 22-year-old finally coming to fruition, it is expected that he will start in the role for Saturday’s friendly against the New York Red Bulls.

Disruptive Potential

While he has been disruptive off the field, Wilshere is a world-class player who has the potential to upset the best teams in Europe.

However, he needs to have a successful pre-season campaign in order to keep his place in a side full of midfield riches. Otherwise he find himself wasting the potential that shook the world six years ago.

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Comments

#18 mike ajiri 2014-07-27 08:58

wenger if is a dream better go and look for a malaria drugs and take, jw to be what dmf not in arsernl, we need a spoiler in that dfm who is naturally strong . Thanks

+4 #17 TC 2014-07-25 09:47

Quoting sean cusack:

jack wilishire is one world class player need more training for him to be better with the ball

World Class you are having a laugh, he has done nothing yet so HTF can he be world class, in his own head maybe.

+3 #16 TC 2014-07-25 09:46

I think Wonga has been smoking weed if he thinks I spend most of my time on my ass Jack can do that job, we need a man not a little injury prone boy playing in that position.

#15 Macgooner56 2014-07-24 20:54

JW as a defensive midfielder is absolute tosh.if Wenger had got Wanyama from celtic when he was available we wouldnt need one now.jack will get injured,diaby will get injured and we,l be back to square one as usual,Arsene,,its not your money!!!

+1 #14 No Doubt 2014-07-24 17:48

To be honest I think this is a ploy to cool the newspapers and rumours down. I think someone will be signed and Jack will have to compete. Say what you will he's no Viera and you don't have to be a world recognized football authority to see that...

#13 No Doubt 2014-07-24 17:43

Quoting Arsenal 4 Life:

Wenger are you for real? do you want to destroy Arsenal cos we won FA Cup that nearly give me stroke cos during the match my BP was so high.If wenger fail to sign DMF i will chose Chelsea over Arsenal and get their shirt and my children will follow Chelsea i told my wife cos their under age, which she keep on praying that wenger should get DMF cos she don't want me to support Chelsea.

Go ahead and support Chelsea. They're a fine team with a billionaire owner. They have different values, play a totally different kind of football and have an arrogant manager. Good Luck. Just one thought. If you can switch that easily ... were you ever really Arsenal?

+1 #12 No Doubt 2014-07-24 17:39

Quoting ainsworth:

the difference between wenger and sir alex is that sir alex does not recruit players with skill alone he also looks at their heart and desire to win football games. ...

This is patent nonsense. Watch any documentary on Arsenal and Arsene Wenger or listen to him talk about players. He's always looking for players with a strong competitive spirit and will to win.

+2 #11 Rodger 2014-07-24 17:25

This is unfortunate for us if AW thinks JW can fill DM role. Conceding 5, 6 or even 8 goals is the most embarrassing thing for us fans. I hope this is just another news and it won't happen.

-3 #10 sean cusack 2014-07-24 16:07

jack wilishire is one world class player need more training for him to be better with the ball

#9 umarr- arsenal 2014-07-24 15:23

Pls. Wenger no one need to get sick like
Last season l was at the hospital after liverpool
Defited us 5-1 pls we don't want such this time round we need a DMF to starte this season.

+1 #8 ainsworth 2014-07-24 13:57

the difference between wenger and sir alex is that sir alex does not recruit players with skill alone he also looks at their heart and desire to win football games. Great players play from their and they demonstrate a strong desire and will to win, wenger it is not about which players you like we will not accept that this summer.

-1 #7 silentstan 2014-07-24 12:46

JW is NOT a world class player, and is most certainly not a dm

-1 #6 kemby 2014-07-24 12:46

Yes that is our Mr. professor.what left is to turn a goalie into a center forward.go on Mr.

+3 #5 Taz 2014-07-24 12:14

We need a defensive midfield general. One who can mix the creative stuff with the rough stuff. Wilshire is made of glass!

-2 #4 Arsenal 4 Life 2014-07-24 12:09

Wenger are you for real? do you want to destroy Arsenal cos we won FA Cup that nearly give me stroke cos during the match my BP was so high.If wenger fail to sign DMF i will chose Chelsea over Arsenal and get their shirt and my children will follow Chelsea i told my wife cos their under age, which she keep on praying that wenger should get DMF cos she don't want me to support Chelsea.

+3 #3 alexis gooner 2014-07-24 11:39

We need a midfielder who will stay down with the defence n help out the defence.

+6 #2 alexis gooner 2014-07-24 11:37

Wilshere is like another box to box player like ramsey n he is an injury prone player,so is diaby. Wenger should really get another central defensive player. I think we should get schneirderlin, bender or william carvalho. Just try to get them one last time.

+7 #1 arsenal-steve 2014-07-24 11:31

Wenger is losing the plot. One tap on the ankle and Wilshire will be out for the year. I give up on Wenger, he has become a mad liability.

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