On January 28, Arsenal veteran Jack Wilshire was recently interviewed by the Daily Mail, where he talked about his current situation.
Speaking about his eldest son, Yachi, who has done some work for the Post, he said: "He's like a journalist! Sometimes he'll ask me, 'Will you play again?' ''Several teams are missing midfielders, why don't they sign you?'' I really don't know how to answer him. ”
Willhill has been training at former club Arsenal since last October, not with the U18 echelon but with Arteta's first team, every day.
The arrangement was made so that he could bridge the gap with premier league level in terms of physical fitness and confidence, and he hoped to find a new owner who really saw the opportunity to train with Arsenal. For three months since leaving Bournemouth last May, he has been training alone in a local park.
His eldest son, Yachi, 10, is not with him, but at his home in Hertfordshire, where, in addition to school, he works as a young reporter for The Post and prepares to train in football.
So in such a situation, is Wilshire still capable of playing in the Premier League? He replied: "Yes, I believe I can handle the physical issues and can play a role in the game. "It is worth mentioning that the last time Wilshire played in the Premier League was when he played for West Ham 18 months ago.
'I always say that when I come back to Arsenal, I'll make a decision about my next stage at the end of January and when you're not in a racing environment you never know where that road is going to go.'
"But it leads me to believe that my playing career is not over. Arsenal have the top managers and if I can't bring in or maintain that standard, I can't train with the first team all the time. ”
'I can still beat the opponents one-on-one, to know that those are the top players, it's a signal for me that I can still do it, and I want to be able to continue this state.'
Still, the reality is incredibly harsh. So far, he has not received any offers from the Premier League. It can even be said that nothing is relatively close now except the distance from the deadline he himself has set. He is applying for a Cypriot passport through his wife, hoping to find opportunities in Eastern European football.
Wilshire sounds positive, but the situation is not as rosy as he thinks. For the player who is very talented in his generation, everything is not going well.
The first day of the new year is usually a day of looking forward. This year, Wilshire reflected on his past decade, at a birthday party on his thirties.
"It's a very small thing and obviously I don't want to put the whole of Arsenal in danger of coronavirus! But it was another strange day. It's a mixed feeling," said Wilshire, who became part of Arsenal's training session in Dubai this week.
"When I was 20, I gained a lot, but that wasn't what I wanted. Yes, I played a World Cup and won a couple of cups, but I didn't get to the level I thought I should be. ”
"But I also think back to those good times, like when I made my debut at the age of 16, which makes me very proud."
Michael Owen was interviewed by The Post last month. Like Wilshire, he struggled between pride and frustration. Wilshire thinks the two can be compared, but he emphasizes that only to some extent.
"Yes, I have this ambivalence. Irving did do well when he was 18 or 9 years old, and then suffered injuries, but he was able to play for giants like Manchester United in his later career. He's still able to get that opportunity, and I don't think I can get it. ”