Jack Wilshere was one of the world’s hottest prospects at Arsenal but after a an injury-plagued career he is just ‘grateful’ to kickstart it again at Aarhus Gymnastikforening

Jack Wilshere’s wait to find a new club finally ended when he signed a short-term contract with Danish Superliga side Aarhus Gymnastikforening in February.

In February 2011, Wilshere was one of the hottest prospects in world football and put in a man of the match display for Arsenal against a star-studded Barcelona side in the Champions League.

Wilshere made 49 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal in the 2010-11 season and established himself as a key player in their midfield at a young age.

His breakout season in 2010-11 saw him earn multiple individual honours; including being voted the PFA Young Player of the Year, Arsenal.com’s Player of the Season and saw him feature in the PFA Team of the Year.

His progress was suddenly halted in the summer of 2011 when he suffered an ankle injury in a pre-season Emirates Cup clash against the New York Red Bulls.

Although seemingly not serious at first, the midfielder suffered further setbacks with his ankle as well as his knee and he missed the entire 2011-12 campaign.

This meant that Wilshere would also miss out on playing for England in the European Championship in 2012 as well as playing for Great Britain at the Olympics that year.

Wilshere signs a long-term deal at Arsenal in December 2012

Wilshere finally returned to first-team action for Arsenal in October 2012, playing 67 minutes during a 1-0 win against Queens Park Rangers at the Emirates Stadium.

The England international impressed in his first senior game in 17 months and continued to feature for the Gunners in the coming games.

In December 2012, Wilshere signed a new long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium along with team-mates Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson.

He scored a late winner against Swansea City in an FA Cup third-round replay in January 2013, as he continued to thrive following his return to the Arsenal first-team.

His injury problems soon returned though, as he suffered another ankle injury in March 2013 that ruled him out for a month.

Following the injury, his manager Arsene Wenger was careful with the young star, only using him when he felt he was absolutely required.

At the end of the season, Wilshere underwent minor surgery with Wenger insisting he would be ready for pre-season.

He said: ‘He will need very minor surgery, but we will manage that as far as we can until the end of the season. At the moment, we use him only in games when I feel he is really needed.

‘He won’t be available for England in the forthcoming friendlies, but he will be back for pre-season.’

Wilshere’s injury hell

The following season saw Wilshere remain injury-free up until January, when he suffered a further ankle problem which saw him ruled out for two weeks.

The midfielder was forced off the pitch in March 2014 with a hairline fracture injury following a tackle from Denmark’s Daniel Agger during an international friendly at Wembley.

He would miss key games for Arsenal against the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City as the Gunners’ title hopes crumbled in the latter months of the season.

Arsenal squeaked past Wigan in the FA Cup semi-finals and the Englishman came on as a substitute during extra-time of the final against Hull City.

Aaron Ramsey’s winner in extra-time secured Arsenal’s first trophy in nine years, as well as the first winners’ medal of Wilshere’s senior career.

Wilshere won further individual honours when his goal against Norwich City in October 2013 was voted BBC Goal of the Season for the 2013-14 campaign.

His 2014-15 season was once again disrupted by injury, when he got injured in November in a clash with Paddy McNair against Manchester United at the Emirates Stadium.

He missed most of the campaign but finished the season brightly, with his goal against West Brom on the final day of the season earning him the BBC Goal of the Season for the second year running.

Six days week later, Arsenal beat Aston Villa 4-0 in the FA Cup Final to secure further silverware for the club, with Wilshere coming off the bench in the 77th minute.

The midfielder suffered a broken fibula in pre-season training during the summer of 2015, an injury that would sideline him until April 2016.

Deadline day loan to Bournemouth

On transfer deadline day in August 2016, Wilshere was sent to Bournemouth on a season-long loan deal.

He impressed at the Vitality Stadium, winning Bournemouth’s Player of the Month award in both November and December 2016.

In April 2017, Wilshere suffered another fibula injury following a challenge from Tottenham’s Harry Kane during Bournemouth’s 4-0 defeat at White     Hart Lane.

Wilshere returned to Arsenal following the injury and despite interest in him from other clubs in the summer of 2017, he stayed at Arsenal for the final year of his contract.

He started the season in a back-up role, playing a full 90 minutes in a Carabao Cup win against Doncaster Rovers in September 2017.

The previous season saw Arsenal fail to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years, having to settle for a place in the Europa League instead.

Wilshere featured regularly in the Europa League in 2017-18, as Arsenal progressed to the semi-finals before being knocked out by eventual winners Atletico Madrid.

He featured 38 times for Arsenal in 2017-18, the second highest campaign for appearances in his career.

The summer of 2018 saw plenty of change at Arsenal, with Arsene Wenger leaving the club after 22 years in charge.

Unai Emery replaced Wenger and with Wilshere’s contract up at Arsenal, he held talks about his future with the Spaniard.

Move to West Ham

Wilshere chose to sign for boyhood club West Ham as a free agent after leaving Arsenal, but after two injury-plagued seasons, he was released by the Hammers in October 2020.

After a few months without a club, the midfielder then returned to Bournemouth on a short-term contract in January 2021.

Despite scoring twice in 17 appearances upon returning to the Cherries, Wilshere left the club when his contract expired in the summer of 2021.

He was close to joining Italian Serie B club Como after training with the side last summer; but the move collapsed due to Wilshere holding a non-EU passport.

Return to Arsenal and move to Denmark

The midfielder had been training with Arsenal since October to maintain fitness while trying to find a new club.

With Arsenal lacking midfielders in January due to a combination of injuries, suspensions and players being away on international duty, there was speculation of Wilshere being signed on a short-term deal.

The move never materialised and Wilshere has now finally found a new club in Denmark.

At the age of 30, Wilshere still has a lot to offer a club if he can avoid the injuries that have hampered his career.

Ten years ago, not many people would have thought Wilshere would be playing his club football in Denmark at this stage of his career.

After multiple injuries throughout his career and a long search for a new club, the 30-year-old is just grateful for the opportunity to kick-start his career.

He said: ‘I am in a place in my career where I need to get started again after a difficult period and that opportunity AGF has offered me. For that I am very grateful, and I will do everything I can to live up to the expectations.’