There was once a time when Jack Wilshere genuinely looked like a world-class talent in the making, but it now feels almost too long ago to accurately remember.
Although the Arsenal midfielder’s quality has been evident in fits and spurts during the intermittent period, such as his tippy-tappy role in the BBC’s 2013/14 Goal of the Season, only during his solitary full term in the Gunners first team did we receive a large enough sample to truly evaluate his capabilities. That was five injury-plagued years ago, all the way back in the 2010/11 campaign.
Since then, a number of arguably superior alternatives for both Arsenal and England have emerged. During 2015, the twelve months in which the Gunners produced their best, most captivating and most effective football for over a decade, Wilshere clocked up just six appearances across all competitions.
Santi Cazorla has proved a better playmaker, Francis Coquelin a better ball-winner, Aaron Ramsey a more consistent provider of energy, goals and all-round dynamism and Mesut Ozil unquestionably a better creator in the final third. If all of Arsene Wenger’s midfield options were fully fit at the moment, Wilshere would be the one left on the bench.
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Likewise, the future of England’s engine room once appeared completely dependent on the 24-year-old’s development. But as Roy Hodgson begins to draft his squad for Euro 2016, there are far more reliable and promising options at his disposal than a midfielder who is yet to feature in any competition this season.
Jordan Henderson has emerged as a midfielder of real responsibility, both in terms of the Liverpool armband and the corroboration of energy and output he provides.
Fabian Delph, although a bit-part player for Manchester City, proved incredibly influential during the biggest win of England’s qualifying campaign – the 2-0 thumping of Switzerland back in September 2014.
James Milner’s experience and composure is vital to a Three Lions squad otherwise lacking it. Ross Barkley has now demonstrated his quality, pretty much every weekend, for three straight seasons and is becoming increasingly clinical in his final third decision making. Eric Dier, albeit a new kid on the block, is one of the few out-and-out defensive midfielders currently in England contention.
But most significant of all is the rise of Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli, a midfielder five years Wilshere’s junior who has taken the Premier League by storm since arriving from MK Dons during the summer. He’s already matched Wilshere’s Premier League tally for Arsenal – six goals in 100 appearances – in his first 21 top flight outings and the former League One star’s strike against Crystal Palace on Saturday was something truly special.
No doubt, Wilshere’s had his match-winning moments. The aforementioned Goal of the Season, that unforgettable performance against Barcelona in the Champions League, for example. But Alli’s wonder-goal against the Eagles; a kick-up into a Zidane-esque flick over Mile Jedinak’s head into a measured volley that took one bounce on its way into the bottom corner; really put the former’s ever-heralded potential into perspective.
Of course, being a midfielder isn’t all about scoring goals – Andres Iniesta is one of the game’s greatest and most decorated, yet averages less than one goal every ten appearances for Barcelona. Yet, regardless of the bulge of the onion bag, it’s taken Alli just a half-season at White Hart Lane to produce a moment of world-class magic matching anything Wilshere’s conjured up during his eight years in the Premier League.
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Furthermore, there are other equally appealing aspects to the teenager’s game than simply finding the net. He’s physically and mentally tough, evident enough through the miraculous pace in which he’s acclimatised to the Premier League, he can win the ball, averaging 2.1 tackles and 2.2 interceptions per match this season, he can create chances for others, registering five league assists thus far, and he’s consistent in possession. Combining all traits, he always drives play forward, whether he’s operating as an attacking midfielder, a centre-mid or a holding player.
Wilshere shares some of those characteristics and his technical quality has always been particularly unique for an Englishman. But Alli’s emerging as the complete package, the only criticism thrown his way being an occasionally overzealous approach to the midfield battle, whereas the Arsenal star’s game has always contained weaknesses; a lack of natural athleticism, an imbalance towards offensive play despite rarely finding the net, a penchant for overplaying in dangerous areas and of course, a proneness to long-term injuries.
Alli’s qualities are more explicit to the naked eye and that mirrors the biggest division between the two midfielders currently. Whilst one is operating on reputation, prior glories and mythological greatness fabled by the Arsenal fan base, the other is showcasing his talents every week in the Premier League to an indisputable level.
Their careers now seem to be moving in opposite directions, as one’s shadow overbears the other. Wilshere may be on the verge of returning to fitness, but it suddenly feels like Arsenal and England no longer truly need him – at least, not to the extent they once did. The Tottenham star, meanwhile, is already an indispensable figure at White Hart Lane and looks set to claim that status for his country at next summer’s European Championship.
If England fans haven’t already forgotten about Wilshere’s potential, Alli’s ability will make them by the time the tournament in France comes around.
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