End of the Road for Jack and Arsenal; Or Rising Like a Phoenix for Next Mr. Arsenal?

The transfer window is shut. For now. And in the last two days of it, Arsenal were as busy as any with incomings and outgoings. The most notable had to be the not completely unexpected loan move of Jack Wilshere.

Jack is held by many as the player who most epitomized the old Arsenal ethos found in the days when Adams such roamed the pitch at Highbury. It was widely believed that Jack would in fact be the one to pick up Adams’ mantle as “Mr. Arsenal.”

But it has not gone to plan for young master Wilshere.

Jack as we all know has come up through the Arsenal academy and positioned himself as an Arsenal star of the future. That glorious night in 2011 when Jack Wilshere put on a display versus Barcelona was considered the moment the young Arsenal midfielder announced his presence. His performance that night was so memorable, many argued he would’ve fit in perfectly with the side that visited that night, Pep’s Barcelona machine.

So what has led us to this point? What has led Arsenal’s most promising development project in this era, move to a club (on loan) that will likely finish mid to lower table?

The simple answer would be to blame it on the injuries. And it wouldn’t be that far from the truth. Simply put, Jack needs playing time and since he has experienced such prolonged absences from the Arsenal first team, he has moved further down the pecking order.

Looking at him at his momentary appearances in the first games of this young season, and you catch a glimpse that the player is still there. But the question you have to ask is – can he in his current form displace the starters in front of him?

If you view Jack as the creative engine of a team, then you have to ask yourself can Jack supplant Mesut Özil in the number 10 role. Let’s be honest, the answer is no. A healthy Özil is one of the first, if not the first name on the team sheet each week. Simply put without his movement, his passing ability and the skillful way he moves in between the opposition lines, Arsenal are without an engine.

If you view him more of the box to box type, bring the ball from deep from defense to attack, you have to ask yourself if he can replace a healthy Santi Cazorla. Or does he replace a Aaron Ramsey. Cazorla from deep is one of the best transitional players in the game. His two-footedness and guile make him almost impossible to get the ball off, especially against teams he like to press high.  And who can forget how good an in form Aaron Ramsey is. His Euro 2016 campaign, a testament to that.

Sure, if Jack Wilshere is healthy and fit – he likely pushes Ramsey for a spot. However, for those that have begged Wenger to be ruthless, he has been and it was with this move that he sent a bigger signal to Jack than just to get fit.

He served Jack notice. The notice was that it was time for Jack the Lad to become Jack the Man and accept that talent alone shouldn’t be the ultimate determiner of a spot.

If we’re honest, Jack has continually showed that like many of his generation, his talent alone should define him. He forgets at times that his talent doesn’t mean he can get away with anything and everything. From bar room brawls to behavior that contradicts the ethos and lifestyle Wenger wants his players to have.

Not that I think Wenger begrudges Wilshere the odd cigarette here or there – but the fact it becomes tabloid fodder and regularly shows a lack of awareness on Jack’s part that is borderline childish.

I also wonder whether Jack is a little impetus in this move. There are many rumours circulating around about the deadline day deals. What we do know is that in the end Crystal Palace and Bournemouth were the two clubs remaining to really go after him for a loan move.

Did Jack think too hastily that he needed to make the move because he wasn’t in Sam Allardyce’s plans? Why move to lower English talent for playing time and not to one of Europe’s bigger players like Roma, AC Milan or Benfica who were all reportedly interested in bringing the Englishman to their shores.

Is there a doubt there? Does Jack have the work ethic required to push through at a big club. For me personally I would’ve loved to see him stay at Arsenal and force his way into consideration. First of all, I think he could push Aaron Ramsey and while I think Santi Cazorla is needed in that 8 role, I think Jack has all the talent necessary to be his eventual successor there.

But does he really have the desire? Going to Bournemouth he is going to be able to get by on his talent – yet again. In that squad he will undoubtedly get the playing time he needs and requires and he will get it because he is clearly better than what Eddie Howe currently has at his disposal.

The real question is what does it all mean for Jack? After this season he will have 1 year left on his current contract. If he doesn’t become the player we all hope he can become it surely could lead to his time at Arsenal being done. If he does become the player he can become – does he come back to Arsenal knowing that other bigger pay days may await him? For sure it’s a gamble on both sides.

What does he do if this is Arsene Wenger’s last season? A new manager will likely take a different look at Jack’s talents then Arsene will. I firmly believe if Arsene stays Jack can get another chance. I’m not so sure if the manager isn’t Arsene.

Jack hasn’t had the career we’ve all hoped for. We’ve seen moments that have made us “ooh” and “aah” but due to injury he has never been able to fulfill that promise. Let’s hope this move does what it can do for him and that he comes back to us better than he has been. If not – well it’s better not to think of that right now.