Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has jumped to the defence of his midfielder Jack Wilshere after numerous England fans slammed his performance on Tuesday night away in Ukraine.
Roy Hodgson’s men were held to a goalless draw in their World Cup Qualifier and the performance was far from impressive, but it was the Arsenal midfielder that picked up most of the abuse.
Despite picking up heavy criticism, Wilshere’s club manager, Arsene Wenger, has jumped to the player’s defence and has revealed that playing for your country adds to the pressure unlike playing for your club.
“Jack has been a doubt, a little bit, physically,” the manager said. “The problem in the modern game is that you need to be absolutely 100 per cent to express your talent. Or you don’t.
“At the moment Jack is not completely at his best physically. That’s why people start to question his performances but I think he is a fantastic footballer and he will show that. He needs consistency now.
“Jack has the personality to be a top, top, top player. He has gone through a difficult period. He is conscious that England were not at their best. It can happen.
“Of course [too much pressure is put on his shoulders]. That’s the problem with national teams. I watched the French team and it was the same.
“How can it happen? You have all these players, he plays at Bayern, he plays at Real Madrid, he plays at Arsenal, the other one at Paris Saint-Germain… you put them all together and nothing happens. It is a mystery.
“The pressure suddenly for all the players is completely different. At their clubs they are used to it in a certain way, but it’s different in the national team.
“If Jack has the same game at Arsenal we just say that today he was not at his best. But when he has that game in the national team, suddenly everyone questions your ability. They play in the national team with that kind of pressure and it comes from everybody.”
Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt
