Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere believes he has been scuppered by “lazy” perceptions about his fitness.
The 29-year-old is currently a free agent after being released by AFC Bournemouth at the end of last season.
Injuries have scuppered the career of a player who looked ready to take on the world, after an incredible performance against Barcelona in 2011, where he outclassed a midfield of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets.
However, he has been frustrated by the injury prone perception which has stalked him over the course of his career, despite the fact he has been injury free since before the first lockdown.
"I think going back to when you asked me about my injuries, and I said now I'm probably paying the price more than I did back then,” Wilshere said on the Original Penguin X Campaign against Living Miserably Under the Surface podcast.
“I can feel that now because I think it's a perception and I’ve had this opinion from a few clubs; ‘great player, but an injury waiting to happen’.
“I haven’t been injured since before lockdown, and it was not a serious injury, I've trained every day.
Wilshere was once touted by Steven Gerrard as a future England captain after his dynamic and classy performances from central midfield.
He has been very vocal about his desire to find a club, as well as the personal problems he has endured in his struggles as a free agent.
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But he still has hope he can jump start his career and has called on the footballing world to give him another chance.
“When I was at Bournemouth, I was available for every single game, so I feel like it's a lazy answer because I can.
“Give me a chance, let me prove myself to you then, show you that I’m fit."
His quotes could have perhaps been aimed at his last manager Unai Emery.
The current Villarreal manager replaced Arsene Wenger in 2018, after the legendary Gunners boss retired after 22 years, three Premier League titles, and seven FA Cup victories.
Wilshere said he was on the cusp of signing a new deal, but claims he was effectively ushered out of the Emirates door by Emery.
"When Emery came in I wanted to sit down and have a conversation with him, we did and he said, 'Basically if I were you I would leave - you're not in my starting XI,' Wilshere said to Arsenal ’s Lockdown Podcast in May 2020.
"He had plans to buy a midfielder, I think he bought [Lucas] Torreira, and I wasn't in his plans.
“And that was the moment that it felt like the club was going in a different direction and I decided to leave."
At the beginning of September, Wilshere was training with Serie B outfit Calcio Como.
But, Arsenal manager and former team mate of Wilshere Mikel Arteta did recently open the door for Wilshere to return to the club and train.
