Bournemouth manager, Eddie Howe, has admitted that not having Jack Wilshere available against Arsenal on Sunday will be a ‘miss’.
The midfielder is on loan with the Cherries and therefore can’t face his parent club. However, he’s also cemented himself a place in Howe’s starting XI and, to be honest, I reckon he’d play if he was allowed. He’s reached a level of fitness where he’s helping his loan team and he’s got momentum on his side.
However, those aren’t the rules and Howe realises that they’re going to miss him this weekend.
“Jack Wilshere will be a big miss for us,” he said during his press conference.
“He’s been excellent, both with and without the ball.”
Whether Wilshere’s future is at Bournemouth remains to be seen. The 24-year-old has been a little shady about what’s in store lately, suggesting that he doesn’t really see himself returning to north London. Saying this, Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the club will offer him a new contract at the end of the season seeing that his runs out in 2018.
“It’s difficult for me to say because I love Arsenal and I’ve had great times there, and they’ve been great for me, and I can still see myself playing there,” Wilshere said earlier this month.
“But who knows what the future holds? I’ve got a year left when I go back there.
“At the moment I’m just trying to have a season where it puts me in a good position at the end of the year, I’m improved as a player and Arsenal want me back, and we’ll see where we go from there.
“I always thought to myself ‘of course I love Arsenal’ but if there comes a time where I have to leave, then I have to leave, you know? If I go back and I’m not going to be playing, then, of course, I have to think about things.
“But at the moment I’m concentrating on Bournemouth. I want to put myself in a position where I go back next year and I’m a better player, and I’m fitter, and I can prove to people I can play week in, week out, and I’m ready for the challenge.”
Will Wilshere stay? He’s appreciated at Bournemouth and gets regular playing time. Could he get that at Arsenal if someone, such as Santi Cazorla, was to leave?