da heads bet： Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was heavily criticised for not bringing in a single senior outfield player over the summer, and his midfield has been accused of lacking a true physical presence in recent years. And with Jack Wilshere constantly out injured, it could be another young Three Lions star who helps add some steel to the Emirates engine room.
da cassino： Swansea midfielder Jonjo Shelvey is enjoying a purple patch of form, with the former Liverpool man recalled to Roy Hodgson’s England set up. The midfield maestro joined the Swans in a cut-price £5m deal after departing Anfield in 2013, and he’s been able to showcase his true talent under the stewardship of Garry Monk.
His good form has led to questions about Brendan Rodgers’ decision to let him leave Merseyside so easily. He has a wide ranging skill set and is able to mix his strength with a range of passing not often seen in players from these waters. In fact, Gunners star Jack Wilshere is the only current up-and-coming Englishman who can really match match such an excellent array of abilities.
Perhaps not the ‘destroyer’ Arsenal fans may long for, Shelvey is still more than capable of toughening up their midfield. He could act as a more continental ‘No.4’, think Michael Carrick or a latter years Steven Gerrard. Not to put him in the same class yet of course, but theoretically the 23-year old could perform similar duties.
Next to someone like Francis Coquelin, Wenger could boast his most physical midfield in years. The industry would be a sight to behold, and the Swans star is more than capable than mixing his long range passing with the intricate excellence of Arsenal’s attacking options.
Should he continue his improvement, the England star will be a force to be reckoned with. Still prone to inconsistency, Monk criticised the player last year, believing he should wise up and stop picking up yellow cards through laziness.
In fact, Shelvey’s own father even criticised his long passing during his first full international game against San Marino, a performance he has been widely praised for.
Despite set-backs, the former Charlton youngster has a fighting spirit often found lacking in North London. He was commended for his refreshingly honest post-match interview following the 2-2 draw against Liverpool in 2014, where despite scoring and assisting, he was at fault for both of the Reds’ goals.
Perhaps another season at the Liberty Stadium is the best thing for the young England midfielder. However, his determination to overcome set-backs and criticism is something to be admired, and he is truly going from strength to strength.
As a youngster, he trained with Arsenal’s youth teams. Now older, and growing ever wiser, he could be exactly the sort of player the Emirates outfit so desperately need.
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