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Wenger confirms new role for Arsenal star in 3-4-2-1 formation

By on November 2, 2017

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he now considers Jack Wilshere to be an attacker rather than a central midfielder in our 3-4-2-1 formation.

Wilshere has primarily been used as a central midfielder for much of his career with many believing his future would be as a deep-lying playmaker in the middle of the park.

However, since returning from his latest injury, Jack has been impressing in a more advanced attacking role off the striker during his outings in the Europa League and League Cup.

The 25-year-old is set to start against Red Star Belgrade tonight in our Europa League group stage game and Wenger has now confirmed he sees Wilshere as a player who will influence the game higher up the pitch.

The boss does concede Jack can still be deployed as a central midfielder if we play 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3, but in the 3-4-2-1 system he feels Wilshere is better suited as an attacker.

It means Jack is basically competing with Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez for a starting position in the first team so it’s difficult to see how he’s going to get regular game-time in the Premier League.

Wenger said via ESPN:

“In my head, he’s more a little bit higher up [the field]. I see him more a player who can affect the game in the final third than a player who is a box-to-box player,”

“He’s a little bit in conflict in this position with Ozil and Sanchez. I believe he can as well play in midfield in a 4-2-3-1, he can play midfield in a 4-3-3. In the system we play, I see him a bit more advanced.”

Wilshere has certainly been impressing in the advanced role but I personally still think his future should be in the middle of midfield. Wenger’s starting duo right now are Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka and the pairing just doesn’t work for me so there should be a great opportunity for Wilshere to break in to the side.

The worry might be that Jack lacks the athleticism to play in a midfield two – which I completely understand – but let’s be honest, so does Xhaka! Perhaps the ideal formation could be for Wilshere to start with Xhaka and Ramsey in a 4-3-3.

That would see us reverting back to a four-man defence but I’m not sure that’s such a bad thing as the back three has hardly been a huge success.

Anyway, Wenger is the boss so we have to trust that he knows best….