There've been some not-very-kind words recently from Barcalona manager Pep Guardiola regarding Arsenal's starlet Jack Wilshere, who turned heads turning the Gunners' 2-1 home victory over the Catalan side in the first leg of this UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash. Wilshere's dynamic all-round display saw him dominate the midfield two weeks ago - and when that midfield features names like Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas, that's pretty difficult to do. Was Guardiola impressed? Yes and no. First he praised the youngster's importance to Arsenal, and England, then he claimed that Jack Wilsheres are a dime a dozen:
FC Barcelona Vs. Arsenal FC, 2011: Jack Wilshere Would Be A Reserve Player For Barca, Says Guardiola
[Wilshere] is lucky because we have many players in the second team like him but he plays because there is no pressure at his club to win titles.
A lot of attention is being paid to the claim that Wilshere would be a reservist for Barcelona - but this is silly. Obviously he'd be a reservist - he's not getting into a midfield of Andres Iniesta, Xavi, or Sergio Busquets. Cesc Fabregas would be a reservist there. Javier Mascherano is a reservist. Saying that a player wouldn't be able to get into the Barcelona first team isn't really an insult.
But what’s stranger is claiming that Wilshere only plays because there’s no pressure on Arsene Wenger to win titles is a little more dubious. Firstly - there’s plenty of pressure on Arsenal to win things. They just don’t. Granted, the expectations at Barcelona are a little higher, but that’s what happens when you play in a gussied-up version of the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two teams capable of winning trophies there. Secondly, he seems to be implying that there are better midfield options for Arsenal to deploy than Jack Wilshere, which is insane.
Wilshere isn’t good enough to start for Barcelona - no harm there. But to say that he’s not good enough to start for Arsenal is a different story. Wenger didn’t choose to play him because he has better options available and doesn’t care about winning games. Wenger starts him because he deserves to start. How is that a matter of pressure?
It’s not entirely out of the question that Wilshere makes Guardiola eat his words, although it’s highly unlikely that he’ll put on a show to match his performance at the Emirates. But the fact of the matter is that he doesn’t need to, and even should Barcelona maul Arsenal today, it doesn’t make the comment any less stupid.
See More:
