Arsenal: Wilshere Right To Be Big Fish Despite Paul Scholes Criticism
Paul Scholes has criticised Jack Wilshere for setting his sights too low. However, I believe the Arsenal man will benefit from being the big fish.
On an eventful transfer deadline for Arsenal, a host of young, talented players left the club either on loan or permanent deals. Serge Gnabry signed for Werder Bremen, Calum Chambers moved on loan to Middlesborough and perhaps most importantly Jack Wilshere left for Bournemouth in another season-long loan deal.
While these transfers have been received with various levels of praise and celebration, the biggest name of the trio, Wilshere, has garnered most of the attention from fans and pundits alike, all willing to have their say on whether they believe the move is beneficial or not.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
One such man is Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, who stated that he would have rather seen Wilshere move abroad and believes that the 24-year-old set his sights a little low in potential loan destinations. Speaking to Sky Sports, Scholes said:
“Get some experience abroad, I think that would have been great for him and would have been great for the England team as well. Just because he is going to Bournemouth, doesn’t mean he is going to play all the time. You still have to perform to play first team football. If he stays fit then there is no doubt he is the top player there. But he should be playing for a top three or four club in England and that is what he should be aiming for. I just worry a little that he has set his sights too low.”
While I agree that it would have been advantageous for Wilshere to move abroad and rejuvenate his development away from the media pressures of the Premier League, receiving different perspectives and philosophies through the coaching of foreign managers and culture, the issue that I take with Scholes’ comments comes where he criticises Wilshere for setting his sights too low.
Rather, Wilshere stooping – though that statement could rightly be contested with some valid arguments – to Bournemouth’s level is exactly why this is such a good move. Being the big fish should guarantee him game time, something that he has missed throughout his injury plagued career, will provide with experience of leading a side and thrust an element of responsibility on his shoulders.
Bournemouth could well be the perfect club for Wilshere to attempt to breathe life into a suffocating career, and while the bright lights of Roma were sure to be a tempting offer, sending him to a club where he will be the main man could be the scenario in which he re-finds his twinkling form of younger years.
This article originally appeared on 
