Jack Wilshere will play with ‘point to prove’ in first game against Arsenal for West Ham
Wilshere will play against Arsenal for the first time since ending his 17-year spell with the Gunners
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Your support makes all the difference.Jack Wilshere is determined to “prove a point against Arsenal” when he plays them for the first time since ending his 17-year allegiance with them when West Ham travel to the Emirates on Saturday.
Wilshere joined West Ham on a free transfer after not renewing his contract at the Gunners after learning that new manager Unai Emery could not guarantee him time in the first team.
He had previously spent a year on loan at Bournemouth but was unable to play his against parent club, meaning he will play his first ever game against Arsenal this weekend.
“It’s down to me to prove a point to Arsenal that they were wrong to get rid of me,” Wilshere told West Ham's matchday programme.
“First of all I’ve got to concentrate on football and I quite fancy our chances. I obviously know them really well.”
“It’ll be a strange one for me as I was never able to go there and play when I went out on loan as you can’t play against your parent club, but it’s on I’m looking forward to.”
West Ham and Arsenal are both winless in their first two games under their new manager. Arsenal have been beaten by Manchester City and Chelsea, while the Hammers were thumped 4-0 by Liverpool and let a lead slip against Bournemouth in their 2-1 loss.
Emery’s style of play is beginning to take shape at Arsenal, who looked good in parts against Chelsea, but Wilshere believes his knowledge of his opponents gives him an edge.
“They’ve got a new manager, but I know the players, so hopefully it’ll be a good time to play them,” he said.
Manuel Pellegrini’s persistence in playing a high line at West Ham, which largely attributed to all of Liverpool’s goals, could play into Arsenal’s plans, however Wilshere is confident that performances will improve with more time.
“We have got a lot of new players and we need to gel,” he added on the club website. “At this level in this league, people aren’t given time, so we have to do it quick and all tuck in this week.
“That's the thing about this league, that you haven't got much time to be down. You have to be back on the training pitch and go again."
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