Wilshere laments Hammers move

Former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere admits he has struggled to impose himself at West Ham.

Wilshere, 28, burst onto the scene for the Gunners in 2008 and became a regular in the England starting eleven by his early twenties.

Dynamic performances in the Arsenal midfield, most notably in a dazzling display in the Champions League versus Barcelona ensured Wilshere became one of the most highly thought of footballers of the time.

However, a series of injury-ravaged years followed, with the player having to undergo multiple ankle surgeries that persistently hampered both his regular gametime and development as a footballer.

Wilshere joined Bournemouth on loan in 2016 and appeared to have got his career back on track, though was allowed to leave Arsenal for West Ham on a free transfer after spending just one further season back at the Emirates.

The 34-times capped England international has made just 11 appearances since joining the Hammers, however, and Wilshere is under no illusion that the move has not been a success.

"It hasn't worked out for me, I'll be honest," Wilshere told Stadium Astro (via the Daily Express). "It hasn’t gone the way I wanted it to, I've missed too much football, I haven’t played enough games.

"I want to get back on track, get my career back on track, get playing games week-in, week-out and start to feel like a footballer again."

"The last couple of years have been frustrating. I obviously started [my career] really well at Arsenal, I was enjoying it, I was loving it, almost taking it for granted.

"Then I picked up an injury and I sort of started to understand my body, started to understand that this happens in football.

"I enjoyed my time at Arsenal, and obviously I went to Bournemouth, had a good year but picked up another injury.

"I came back, was told that I could leave but managed to stay and fight my way back into the team and had a good year. Then I made the decision to leave Arsenal and join West Ham."

- TEAMtalk media