Jack Wilshere completed a season-long loan move to AFC Bournemouth on transfer deadline day Wednesday. The Arsenal midfielder was in demand after it became evident he was ready to play elsewhere this season, and despite receiving over 20 offers, a fair few of them from abroad, the England international has decided to stay in the Premier League.
Wilshere failed to start any of the three Arsenal games this season, with Arsene Wenger preferring the likes of Granit Xhaka, Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny.
That meant Sam Allardyce opting against picking the 24-year-old in his first England squad, which in turn led to Wilshere asking Wenger for a move away this season in order to get back into his groove.
With injuries blighting his career – Wilshere missed pretty much the whole of last season – the key for the midfielder will be to get playing time, and after talking to manager Eddie Howe and former Arsenal teammate Benik Afobe, who is also the godfather to Wilshere's child, the Arsenal Academy product decided to sign for Bournemouth.
"Jack is a fantastic addition to the club," Bournemouth chief executive Neill Blake told the club's official website. "He is a player that needs no introduction and one that, quite rightly, our supporters will be excited to see in a Bournemouth shirt.
"He will bring a wealth of international and Premier League experience, so we are delighted to be able to welcome a player of his calibre to the club."
While Wenger is a big fan of Wilshere, the Arsenal manager also knows if the midfielder is to fulfill his potential, he needs to be playing 90 minutes of football regularly. Considering the strength in depth in midfield, that was always going to be difficult at the Emirates, even with the amount of games Arsenal will play this season.
Wilshere interested the likes of Roma and AC Milan as well, and while the Englishman was open to a loan switch to Rome, Arsenal reportedly vetoed the deal, after failing to agree on compensation and how his wages would be paid.
Bournemouth were willing to pay the entire £90,000 a week salary of Wilshere, and that tilted the pendulum in the south coast club's favour.
Now all that remains is for Wilshere to stay injury-free and show why so many tipped him to be the next big thing of English football.
