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Arsene Wenger hails Jack Wilshere's 'special character' as new Arsenal contract looms

Wilshere is close to earning a new Arsenal contract after impressing since returning in the league

Jack Pitt-Brooke
Saturday 30 December 2017 21:21 GMT
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Jack Wilshere impressed against Crystal Palace in midweek
Jack Wilshere impressed against Crystal Palace in midweek

Arsene Wenger hailed Jack Wilshere’s “special character” and his tactical improvement as the England midfielder continues to get his Arsenal career back on track.

Wilshere is close to earning a new Arsenal contract after impressing since returning to the team in the Premier League. He will discuss terms on a new Arsenal deal in the next few weeks.

Wilshere was especially impressive at Selhurst Park on Thursday night, setting up Alexis Sanchez’s second goal with a brilliant pass from the halfway line. Speaking afterwards, Wenger praised Wilshere’s improvement but also his resilience. Arsenal were listening to offers for Wilshere in the summer, after he spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, before breaking his leg in April. It was the latest in a series of injuries that have disrupted Wilshere’s career.

“Give him credit for what he has gone through,” Wenger said. “His performance tonight deserves credit because it demands some character. I have a big respect for that because it is all ‘nicey-nicey’ when you are super talented and everybody says you are the greatest player at 17. But to come back to that level when you have gone through what he has gone through shows a special character. “

Wenger also hailed Wilshere’s “tactical and defensive” improvement, as he shows more discipline, and has recently proven that he can be trusted to play in a two-man midfield alongside Granit Xhaka.

“Where he has improved is tactically and defensively,” Wenger said. “When he does that his defensive game becomes even better. Jack has a great quality, when he wins the ball he gets you out of pressure because he has that little burst and then suddenly he can open the game for you.”

For Wenger, that innate sense of positioning is one of Wilshere’s great strengths. “I believe his positional play is good,” he said. “You watch football, you see that straight away, he is in the right place. Football is first where to be on the pitch, where to stand. After, where to run. But at the start you first have to stand in the right place and he does that.”

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