Granit Xhaka's fitness holds the key to Jack Wilshere's Arsenal future – Keown

Posted Friday, September 22, 2017 by squawka.com

Granit Xhaka's fitness holds the key to Jack Wilshere's return to the Arsenal line-up, according to Martin Keown.

Wilshere completed 90 minutes for the first time in an Arsenal shirt since 2014, during the Gunners' 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers on Wednesday night.

The Englishman's return to first-team football has lead some to believe he will slot straight back into the starting XI, but former Arsenal defender Keown believes Wilshere might have to rely on an injury to get his chance.

"He needs an injury to happen to one of Arsenal's first choice players – presumably Xhaka – to get a chance," Keown wrote in the Mail.

"Jack Wilshere won't get in ahead of Aaron Ramsey because he's right-footed and you need that balance and movement.

"Every time Wilshere has been involved, he still has something available to offer. If Xhaka's form was to dip, then he would have an opportunity and you would imagine he could take it.

"He needs to be available every week. I think it's good news for Arsene Wenger. I can't remember him playing 90 minutes recently. Bournemouth was a good opportunity for Jack. They only played one game a week.

"Wenger might need to pick him for three over a week. Jack needs to be ready for that. Let's see, but I think Wenger will be happy to have him available and still at the club. It might just be cameo appearances for now.

"Jack himself can assess the situation in January. If he's not happy, Wenger will let him leave on loan – he's shown that before."

In the win against Doncaster, Wilshere was also making his first competitive start for Arsenal since the final day of the 2015/16 season.

Xhaka vs Wilshere

In order to aid his recovery from a stress fracture, Wilshere was sent on loan to Bournemouth last season to get playing time he might not have received at the Emirates.

While on the south coast, Wilshere flourished, with Eddie Howe's style of play fitting the Englishman's short passing skills, as shown by his average passing length of 16.63m.

However, this style saw Wilshere complete significantly fewer passes than Xhaka per 90 minute, completing just 39.65 compared to Xhaka's 73.62.

Defensively, too, Xhaka outshone the Englishman winning 2.10 tackles per game compared to Wilshere's 0.80.