Loan move could end Jack Wilshere's Arsenal career - and why he shouldn't go abroad

If Jack Wilshere does leave Arsenal on loan before Wednesday’s transfer deadline it will likely prove to be the first step towards his permanent exit from Arsenal, rather than the first step back to full fitness and prominence.

If a club does get him, Wilshere will go out on loan with the intent to prove his detractors wrong, prove to Arsene Wenger he is ready to be trusted in the Arsenal midfield and prove to himself that he is able to play regularly in the Premier League. Those are three very big challenges for a player we haven’t seen a great deal of recently.

With all the best will in the world though, in truth there is little precedent for a player leaving on loan at 24, rebuilding his career and then returning triumphantly to take his place in the team again. The far more likely scenario is that Wilshere surrenders whatever status he still had at Arsenal, and starts to fade slowly out of Wenger’s plans.

Arsenal clearly hope a spell way from the club will help bring Wilshere back to his full potential but in reality it will just give a chance to other members of the squad. Look at how players like Hector Bellerin and Alex Iwobi have taken their chances in the past two seasons.

Who is to say that Wilshere won’t be even further down the pecking order when he returns? All it takes is for someone to get a good run in the team, and for Arsenal to hit some form, and suddenly Wilshere is right out of the picture.

I’m doubtful he will ever be good enough to command a regular place for Arsenal now. Those injuries have been so limiting on his career.

His natural position is probably a No.10 but he isn’t going to get in ahead of Mesut Ozil. If you push him deeper into midfield but make him the passer, Santi Cazorla is a better option. If he is asked to play the holding role he was once earmarked to do for England, then Granit Xhaka is currently the man in situ, cost a lot of money and looks a far superior player. And that’s before you even consider the claims of Aaron Ramsey, Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin.

Even the most die-hard Arsenal fan would be honest and say that Wilshere has not been up to scratch.

It has taken a while for all parties to get to this stage but you have to say it’s the right decision for Arsenal. You look at how many injuries he has and it is clear that he just needs football, which he will struggle to get at Arsenal at the moment.

What is his level at the moment? It’s hard to say with all those injuries, but I certainly don’t think it’s at a club challenging for the title, which is why Arsenal look ready to let him leave.

I have seen Roma mentioned as a possible destination. People will say European football is a good option but it is surely essential he plays in the Premier League and shows he can stand up to the rigours of English football. That is what is all important for Wilshere and the club.

Going abroad is a big risk. It’s the Premier League where he needs to find his rhythm and where his future lies. If he goes to Italy he’s going to have to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new culture and a new style of football even before focusing on getting those matches under his belt.

It might be nice as a general rule to experience life abroad but culturally I don’t think he suits it. I’d be surprised if he wanted to leave London, even if he did spend a spell away with Bolton at the start of his career. I think he would benefit from getting out of the capital, taking himself out of that social spotlight and reengaging with what football passion is really about. You can’t get that in London.

West Ham are being linked and Wilshere was a Hammers fan as a kid, but I don’t think the supporters will have him because he is such an Arsenal man now. Whichever club takes him on will want assurances that he can play matches, as it’s a big call to take on a large portion of his wages given his record in recent years.