Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere is adamant West Ham can pile misery on Unai Emery’s charges who are yet to put points on the board this season ahead of their weekend encounter.
Wilshere left his boyhood club, Arsenal in the recently concluded July transfer window to join city rivals West Ham United. Wilshere is preparing for an emotion return to the Emirates as he will play against Arsenal for the first time, as he wasn’t eligible to play against them when he was on loan at Bournemouth.
The 26 year old notes that this weekend would be the perfect time for The Hammers to face The Gunners, “They have got a new manager but I know the players. Hopefully, it will be a good time to play them. I have got to try and block all the emotion out. First of all I have got to concentrate on football. I quite fancy our chances.”
Wilshere also wants to prove a point to Arsenal after his sale, “It will be a strange one for as I was never able to go there and play when I went on loan as you cannot play against your parent club, but it is one I am looking forward to. It is down to me to prove a point to Arsenal that they were wrong to get rid of me.”
Wilshere is known for his movement, vision, passing and combination play, as well as his leadership on the pitch. He has been described by Arsène Wenger as having “Spanish technique, but an English heart.” Owen Coyle, the manager of Bolton during Wilshere’s loan spell at the club, praised his ability to “tackle and take a knock,” despite his lack of height.
However, Arsenal head of youth development Liam Brady noted that Wilshere had problems with his temper early on in his career.
Wilshere has been played in many different positions, including as an attacking midfielder, a Winger, and most regularly, as a deep-lying central midfielder. Wenger has said that Wilshere is “a box-to-box player, more than just a holding midfielder.” Wilshere’s style of play has frequently been compared to that of Arsenal legend Liam Brady, while Brady himself identified Wilshere as the latest in a line of technically gifted English players from Glenn Hoddle to Wayne Rooney.
Following his return from injury in the 2012–13 season, Wilshere received praise for his performances and potential from a number of respected players: Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves referred to Wilshere as “a great player,” and compared his potential to that of Barcelona legends Andrés Iniesta and Xavi; Former Manchester United and Germany midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger called Wilshere “one of the best players there are” at his position; and Borussia Dortmund and Germany forward Marco Reus hailed him as “a perfect player.”