Is Szczesny right about his Arsenal team-mate?

Wojciech Szczesny has today said that Jack Wilshere is close to becoming the complete midfielder, as he was tipped to be as a spritely 17-year-old.

The Poland international said: “He has done well,”

“Obviously there is a lot of competition for his spot because you have Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey, plus Mikel and Mathieu playing that bit deeper.

“So it’s hard for him but every time he has come in and got his chance he has done very well. He got a good goal against Man City – I’m not sure he meant that! – but I’m very happy with him.”

Is Szczesny right?

Wilshere broke through at Arsenal in the 2008/09 season making two FA Cup appearances, the same number in the Champions League, three in the Carling Cup and just the one in the Premier League. The then-inexperienced Wilshere found the back of the net just once – Arsenal 6-0 Sheffield United – however, he was a youngster learning his trade and the potential was there for everyone to see.

By the February of the following season, Wilshere had established himself as first-team player at Arsenal but, yet again, the Englishman only bagged the one goal.

Jack made 49 Arsenal appearances in 2011/12 season but even then the midfielder ended with just two goals to his name; the same number for the 2012/13 campaign, also.

Last season was Jack’s most fruitful in front of goal with five – including a lovely brace against Marseille in the Champions League.

So, the answer to whether Szczesny is correct in his assessment of our England international boils down to whether you think Jack is the sort of midfielder that should have goalscoring as part of his game.

Wilshere certainly isn’t a defensive-midfielder – hope you’re reading, Roy Hodgson – although, is he an attacking midfielder, I’m not so sure; he doesn’t have the Frank Lampard eye for goal or the ability to score Steven Gerrard type screamers – the two players Wilshere will no doubt be compared to.

I’m happy to accept Jack Wilshere is a central midfielder, something of a dying breed, but that then raises the question as to whether Arsene Wenger’s line-up accommodates an out-and-out centre-mid?