What happened to former Arsenal star Wilshere said was better than Van Persie
When it comes to Arsenal royalty, Jack Wilshere knows a thing or two.
The Gunners academy graduate played with a whole host of iconic figures after progressing from the club's Hale End nursery into the Arsenal first-team. Wilshere clocked up over 197 figures during his time at the club and experienced plenty of highs and lows in a career which was sadly plagued by injuries.
Wilshere played with a host of top talent during their prime years including both Robin van Persie and Alexis Sanchez. But when he was asked who he thought was better back in 2021, his answer took some people aback.
"This is the toughest one because they were both unbelievable," Wilshere told talkSPORT when the million-dollar question was abruptly put to him. "I’m probably going to have to say Alexi because I played with him for longer.
"As good as Robin was, he didn’t have the pace of Alexi, he was that one player who didn’t give us much defensively. But it didn’t really matter because we trusted him when he got the ball because he could beat someone and win the game for us."
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Although Van Persie played more games and scored more goals than Sanchez, the Chilean international still had a significant impact during his three-and-a-half-year stint in north London. He averaged a goal almost every other game and was influential during a difficult spell in Arsene Wenger's legendary premiership.
Join the debate! Who do you think was better: Sanchez or Van Persie? Let us know here.
Jack Wilshere believes Alexis Sanchez was a better player for Arsenal than Robin van Persie (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC)Unfortunately for Arsenal, their happy marriage with Sanchez came to an acrimonious end when he joined arch-rivals Manchester United in January 2018. Unfortunately for Sanchez, that move sparked the beginning of a downward spiral.
He ended up joining Inter Milan after making 45 appearances over two seasons at Old Trafford. After failing to make a mark in Manchester, he has, at least, managed to find a home in Milan, where he has stayed bar a season-long stint with Marseille last year.
The 35-year-old is still on the books of the Italian giants, but the regret over his decision to swap Arsenal for Manchester United still runs deep. "Sometimes there are things that you don't realise until you get there, and I remember the first training session I had, I realised a lot of things," Sanchez said regarding his ill-fated move to United. "After the session, I got home and I told my family and my agent 'Can you not rip up the contract to go back to Arsenal?"
Those comments speak volumes, but unfortunately, there was no magic wand for Sanchez to undo his decision. Time has been a healer and he is, at least, now remembered fondly for the good times he brought to the Emirates - even if there should have been far more of them.
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