Arsenal planning for next season without Wilshere
Central midfield an area club want to strengthen Wenger is hungrier than ever, says assistant Bould
Arsenal have made central midfield, as well as central defence, a transfer priority as uncertainty over the future of Jack Wilshere increases.
The 26-year-old is out of contract this summer and, while recent performances have prompted the offer of a new deal, he is not happy with the terms and is considering other options, which are likely to include signing for Everton.
Arsenal are also weighing up their position and Sven Mislintat’s scouting department is looking to bolster the spine of the squad. With Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey having failed to extend their contracts and Santi Cazorla’s playing career in the balance, central midfield has become a major focus.
Arsenal have been assessing Schalke’s Max Meyer, who is out of contract this summer and at the age of 22 might be regarded as a better long-term use of resources.
Manager Arsene Wenger has repeatedly said that he wants Wilshere to stay but he told him that he could leave last summer and the offer of £90,000 a week – albeit with potential add-ons – reflects an understandable caution over his injury record.
Wilshere missed England’s recent friendlies against Italy and Holland with a knee injury but Arsenal’s assistant manager, Steve Bould, stressed yesterday that he was now fully fit.
Alexandre Lacazette and Ramsey have also trained fully ahead of Sunday’s match against Stoke City, but Wenger must also consider the Europa League quarter-final tie against CSKA Moscow on Thursday. The competition represents both Arsenal’s only chance of silverware and their best opportunity to qualify for the Champions League.
Bould, who deputised at the manager’s weekly press conference after Wenger had lost his voice, said that the 68-year-old Frenchman was the hungriest he had ever been for success.
“He takes unbelievable stick off an awful lot of people and he’s just one of the great managers,” said Bould. “He’s remarkable. Behind closed doors I’ve never known someone who is as hungry and determined to win football games. It’s as big as I’ve ever seen for sure.”
Bould played under Wenger when he became manager in 1996, then worked as a youth coach and in 2012 took the role of assistant manager. Their relationship has been the subject of scrutiny amid claims that Wenger’s control of training has limited Bould’s potential influence on addressing the defensive weaknesses in the squad.
“I love the man – there are no issues,” said Bould.
Wenger’s future remains in doubt amid his worst Premier League campaign, but centre-back Shkodran Mustafi hopes that a players’ meeting had helped to turn a corner. “It was important to speak our opinions,” said Mustafi. “The meeting was about trying to listen to different opinions, different ideas and different feelings, and I think we found a way to try to change a bit.”