Joe Cole or Jack Wilshere, Did Arsenal make the right decision?
Before the World Cup in South Africa started, many news agencies reported that a deal in principle had been agreed between Arsenal and Joe Cole, which would see the former Chelsea man move to North London for a reported 80,000 Pounds a week, provided he passed a stringent set of medicals. As it played out, Cole chose to sign with Liverpool for 90,000 Pounds a week, in what has been reported as a major coup by the Liverpool manager Roy Hodgson.
At the time, speculation about the future of Arsenal Captain, Cesc Fabregas was at an all time high and this seemed to be a move which would compensate Arsenal somewhat, for the loss of the influential midfielder to Barcelona. An Englishman at the centre of the park would also have helped ease some of the criticism Arsene Wenger has received, due to his preference for foreign players when it comes to Arsenal’s transfer dealings.
With Joe Cole moving to Liverpool, it looks like Cesc Fabregas will be staying for another year at the very least and Jack Wilshere looks like he will not be loaned out this season, after spending last season with Bolton Wanderers.
Jack Wilshere is one of the most highly rated Englishmen playing in the Premier League, so much so that Fabio Capello has already said he is the future of England’s national team. A left sided midfielder who runs well with the ball and has an equally good eye for a through ball and scores goals too. Wilshere was very impressive during his loan spell at Bolton with Owen Coyle, the Bolton Manager, looking to secure him for another season on loan but this might be the time for Arsenal to let him have a go at the first team in North London.
If Joe Cole had secured his transfer to Arsenal, it would undoubtedly have meant that Wilshere would have a much smaller chance of establishing himself in the Arsenal team and would probably have been sent out on loan once again. Although, that may have proved to be beneficial for the left footed player, too many loan spells is not an encouraging sign for young players and it may have led to Wilshere looking for a different club.
Another reason why Wilshere is a better option for Arsenal is that Joe Cole has had a string of injuries and has played very little football in the last few seasons. His move represented a huge risk for Arsenal despite it being a free transfer. Arsenal already have a lot of injury prone players and besides injuries would have meant he would take a lot longer to settle down into the team, whereas Wilshere has been raised at Arsenal and will fit right into the system and lookslike he has the physique and mentality to deal with the pressures of the Premier League. Lets just hope Wilshere turns out to be the player he looks like he will go on to become.
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