One of the biggest deals of deadline day saw Jack Wilshere depart the Emirates in favour of first team football at Bournemouth, with the midfielder joining the South Coast club on loan for the season.
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Wilshere had always been seen as one of Arsenal’s and England’s bright hopes for the future, but has fallen down the pecking order for club and country after an injury-hit few years.
‘I think Jack is Arsenal’s best left-footed midfielder since Liam Brady, but injury has robbed him of much of his career.
Palace were said to be one of the frontrunners in the race to sign the 24-year-old, but Wilshere eventually opted for Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth.
Wilshere has made 159 appearances for Arsenal and as well as gaining lots of UEFA Champions League experience, he has lifted the FA Cup on two occasions and represented England on 34 occasions.
The transfer represents a major step in Bournemouth’s evolution, coming just over three years after they were promoted from the third tier, and one year after they reached the Premier League for the first time.
It was during a loan move to Bolton in 2010 that Wilshere established himself as a player of exceptional promise and after which he featured regularly for Arsenal and England.
“I am obviously delighted that he chose us ahead of a number of other clubs and I think he will do really, really well for the team”.
“He’s a high-profile name, somebody who is regarded as the very best in his position, and that can only help the players that we have here try and raise their game to new levels, that’s all in our thinking”, said Howe.
“I am looking forward to working hard every day with the coaching staff and my new team-mates to help the club achieve success on the pitch”.
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“We had a good football talk and talked about the club”.
