Mikel Arteta says he feels ‘sad’ for Jack Wilshere as another injury looks set to keep him out of yet more football.
Wilshere missed West Ham’s opening fixture against Newcastle and he was also absent from their squad against Charlton midweek after rolling his ankle, the injury that means his participation at the Emirates is out of the question.
Speaking midweek, Moyes explained the injury. “He rolled his ankle in training yesterday or he would have been playing tonight or around the squad,” Moyes said. He then added, “It is the first time since lockdown that he has had an injury.”
In other words, for the months that there was no football, Wilshere was perfectly fit but for the first three games of the season, he isn’t.
In another update Moyes said that Wilshere was back in training already, but Arsenal seem to believe he won’t feature on Saturday. At least, that’s what was put to Mikel Arteta.
“Sad (he won’t play), it’s a big shame,” Arteta said when asked about Wilshere at his pre-match press conference. “First of all, for Jack, who as a person – I was going to say as a kid because he was a kid when I played with him – but he’s such a special character with such, talent, ability and personality on the pitch.
“He could have achieved much more, but injuries have been really tough on him. He’s shown time and time again after that it doesn’t matter how bad those look, he always finds himself in a position to get back and hopefully he can do that again. I think not just me, but everyone else here wishes him all the best.
“I hope he can come back, he’s done it many, many times. I hope he can maintain that mental strength and that willingness to still be as good as he can, because he deserves that.”
Moyes also admitted that he doesn’t know if Wilshere will stay at the club. There have been reports the club want to get him to cancel his contract due to his ongoing injury problems if they can’t find a buyer.
“I don’t know [if he’ll remain a West Ham player], I don’t know but we just have to wait and see, won’t we,” the Scot said.