{"id":742,"date":"2026-04-06T01:30:23","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T01:30:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=742"},"modified":"2026-04-06T01:30:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T01:30:23","slug":"arsenal-sensation-admits-he-shouldnt-have-been-in-england-squad-amid-injury-debate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/?p=742","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal sensation admits he &#8216;shouldn&#8217;t have been in England squad&#8217; amid injury debate"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_68255d\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">Jack Wilshere&#8217;s England career was on and off as injuries cost him multiple caps and the ex-Arsenal star admits some will deem him lucky to have played at two major tournaments<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"36971131\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Jack Wilshere is proud of his England career, but injuries cost hm dear\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36971131.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2244516862.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36971131.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_GettyImages-2244516862.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36971131.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_GettyImages-2244516862.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article36971131.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_GettyImages-2244516862.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Jack Wilshere is proud of his England career, but injuries cost hm dear\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Jack Wilshere is proud of his England career, but injuries cost hm dear<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Former Arsenal star Jack Wilshere admits there&#8217;s an argument he &#8220;shouldn&#8217;t have been in England squads&#8221; that went to major tournaments with his international career marred by injuries.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The former Gunner burst onto the scene as a teenager and made his England debut in August 2010 at the age of 18. There was huge excitement over what he could deliver on the international stage, but a lack of fitness restricted him to just 34 caps.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">That didn&#8217;t stop him from playing at the World Cup in 2014 and the Euros two years later. Wilshere had the faith of then boss Roy Hodgson, who was prepared to pick the Arsenal midfielder even if he had lacked minutes in the months leading up to those tournaments.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Wilshere&#8217;s quality wasn&#8217;t in doubt, but fitness meant he was never playing his best when it came to representing the Three Lions on the international stage. He played in the infamous 2-1 loss to Iceland and the player himself admits that some will oppose him being selected.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The told <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraph.co.uk\/football\/2026\/04\/05\/jack-wilshere-spain-would-take-max-dowman-world-cup-england\/\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">The Telegraph<\/a>: \u201cI look back on my England career and those 34 caps could easily have been 75 \u2013 even if you cut down half the injuries. I look back with pride. I went to the World Cup and I went to the Euros. Probably didn\u2019t get the best out of me because both were off the back of a season with bad injuries, but I had a coach in Roy Hodgson who I really liked.<\/p>\n<p><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_de167e\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Mikel Arteta gave &#8216;nervous energy&#8217; to Arsenal stars as familiar issue called out<\/span><\/span><span data-testid=\"readmore\" class=\"ReadMore_readmore-prefix__xS44r __className_de167e\">READ MORE<!-- -->: <span class=\"ReadMore_readmore-link__eF9pN\">Mikel Arteta issues immediate Arsenal demand after shock FA Cup exit to Southampton<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">\u201cArguably, I shouldn\u2019t have been in those squads, but he trusted me. Sometimes I look back and think of what might have been. But I have really good memories of scoring two goals (against Slovenia in June 2015); of having a run in the team as a No 6. I loved that. So, yeah, frustrating, but also really proud.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Wilshere would only score twice for his country, both of those screamers in a comeback win against Slovenia. Both goals saw the former Arsenal man take aim from range, with both strikes ending up in the top corner.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-25275021\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"25275021\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.67\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"The former Arsenal man played at two major tournaments\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article25275021.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-477121974.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article25275021.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_GettyImages-477121974.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article25275021.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_GettyImages-477121974.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article25275021.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_GettyImages-477121974.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"The former Arsenal man played at two major tournaments\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">The former Arsenal man played at two major tournaments<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Injury ultimately stopped Wilshere from ever reaching his true potential and he&#8217;s now a manager at Luton. He&#8217;s watching on as the next Arsenal academy product, Max Dowman, grabs the headlines. The 16-year-old recently became the Premier League&#8217;s youngest ever scorer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">And Wilshere would take him to the World Cup &#8211; insisting other nations wouldn&#8217;t hold him back. \u201cThe only thing I would say is, Spain would take him. That\u2019s what I think,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We have this way at times in England of building them up but then protecting them. You get caught in that (place): \u2018If he goes what will people say?\u2019 He (Dowman) is definitely good enough. Even if he goes and he doesn\u2019t play that much. Which I think he can. I think he is good enough.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/chat.whatsapp.com\/Feq1SEG6mXDIZGTTnek7oz\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Join our new WhatsApp community<\/em> <\/a>and receive your daily dose of <em>Mirror<\/em> <em>Football<\/em> content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don&#8217;t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you&#8217;re curious, you can read our <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reachplc.com\/site-services\/privacy-policy\" rel=\"nofollow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\"><em>Privacy Notice.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Jack Wilshere&#8217;s England career was on and off as injuries cost him multiple caps and<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":743,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pagelayer_contact_templates":[],"_pagelayer_content":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arsenal"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=742"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/742\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/743"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disport.com.ng\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}